Performance analysis of shell fabric of fire protective clothing for different process parameters

Abstract

Horizontal and vertical orientations of fabric were used to enhance the performance of fire protective clothing. Using response surface methodology, a multi-parametric experimental equation is obtained for calculating HT and VT for horizontal and vertical orientations, respectively, and creating the relationship between process parameters such as moisture content (M: 0% to 100%), heat flux (Q: 21 to 63 kW/m2), and microclimate thickness (d: 0 to 25 mm). The good correlation coefficient (R 2 = 0.973 and 0.967 for horizontal and vertical orientation, respectively) between the two sets of estimates is observed. The improvement in protection time due to heat flux (Q), microclimate thickness (d), and moisture content (M) for both horizontal and vertical orientation is 55%–56% at M = 100% and d = 25 mm, 22%–23% at Q = 63 kW/m2 and M = 100%, and 36%–39% at Q = 63 kW/m2 and d = 25 mm, respectively.