Development and evaluation of a multi-functional welding protective clothing system

Abstract

A new welding protective clothing system has been proposed to enhance the protective performance, comfort, and safety of welding protective clothing, considering the hazards associated with welding processes. The structure and fabric of the protective clothing carrier were redesigned, and a safety and protection system based on Internet of Things technology was developed. Objective tests and subjective evaluations were conducted on the protective clothing system. The results of objective tests showed that compared to regular welding protective clothing, the new protective clothing exhibited significant improvements in flame resistance, light resistance, and mechanical performance, with relatively lower vapor resistance. In subjective evaluations, the subjective evaluation scores (on a 5-point scale) of the new welding protective clothing were 26.46% and 27.95% higher than those of regular welding protective clothing, respectively (p ≤.05). Furthermore, the protective clothing system demonstrated a highly sensitive monitoring and feedback mechanism during testing, which can enhance workers’ ability to withstand risks and improve their psychological safety. The research on welding protective clothing with safety functions not only provides reference for innovative design of traditional welding protective clothing, but also lays a theoretical foundation for further research on other types of protective clothing.