What is Radiant Heat Resistant or Protective Clothing?
Properties of Radiant Heat Protective Clothing:
A radiant head protective capability of the apparel is more reliant on the aluminized finishing. Smooth aluminized finished heat resistant or heat-protective textiles radiate more light and heat than other kinds of finished fabrics. As a result, its radiant heat protective capability is better.
If the smoothness of the aluminized finished clothing is reduced or the clothing surface becomes dirty the radiant heat protection capacity of aluminized finished clothing is reduced. Hence, aluminized finished clothing is again finished with the special type of resin coating very lightly. As a result, increases the abrasion resistance power of the clothing, soilless, and easily cleaned.
Temperature generation on the surface of the aluminized finished fabric is half of the other type of finished clothing at still air when aluminized finished clothing is subjected to radiant heat together with another type of radiant heat-resistant clothing. It is experimentally proved. Temperature generation on aluminized finished clothing is further reduced in the case of running air.
The fabric density is also related to radiant heat resistant property besides the method of aluminized finish. Lower destiny fabric shows better radiant heat resistant property than higher density fabric. Keeping the fabric weight, fiber composition, and aluminized finishing method constant and only varying fabric density. It’s because a lower density fabric contains more trapped air than a higher density fabric. The thermal productivity of trapped (still) air is lower. Hence, lower density fabric shows better performance in the radiant heat.
Aluminized finished apparel shows poor convective heat resistant characteristics but good radiant heat resistant characteristics. If radiant heat resistant apparel comes in contact with flame, as in the case of a firefighter clothing is not so good, but as clothing for a furnace, man is good.
Aluminized finished apparel fabric structure is also related to radiant heat protective characteristics. The fabric may be knitted, woven, or felted. Needle felted fabric shows better radiant heat resistant characteristics. Radiant heat and conductive heat can easily pass through the trapped still air inside those fabrics in the case of knitted and woven fabric, but the fibers in the fabric are arranged in a scattered way in the case of felted fabrics. As a result, radiant and conductive heat cannot easily pass through.
The presence of moisture in the radiant heat protective textile has also been related to radiant heat protective characteristics. The radiant heat protective performance is reduced in presence of moisture increases in the radiant heat resistant clothing or apparel.
