Aging of high-performance fibers used in firefighters' protective clothing: State of the knowledge and path forward

Abstract

High-performance fibers developed since the 1960s have a wide range of applications including firefighters' protective clothing. Firefighters' protective clothing made of inherently flame-resistant high-performance fibers offers excellent protection in the new condition. However, these fibers experience aging as any polymer material. The situation is amplified due to the severe conditions associated with the firefighters' activities. And the consequences of a loss in the performance of the protective clothing can be dramatic for the firefighter's safety. This article provides a comprehensively review of the aging behavior of high-performance fibers used in firefighters' protective clothing. Residual performance data have been identified both for used firefighter garments as well as fabric specimens subjected to accelerated aging. Research shows that different aging conditions affect the different fibers to a different degree. The specific conditions in which the aging is applied also affects the outcome in terms of loss in performance. Techniques successfully used to quantify the effect of aging on the performance of fire-resistant fabrics are also briefly mentioned. Finally, the knowledge gained from this analysis of the literature as well as research gaps and further areas of investigation are discussed in this neglected yet critical topic of firefighters' protective clothing aging.