• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.452-460
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• 2013

This study conducted a performance evaluation of protective clothing materials used for welding in a hazardous shipbuilding industry work environment. The welding process was selected as the one that most requires industrial protective clothing according to work environment characteristics. Flame proofing and convection heat protection performance (HTI) in the heat transfer characteristics of protective clothing material were indicated in the order of SW1(Oxidant carbon)>SW2(silica coated Oxidant carbon)>SW4(Oxidant carbon/p-aramid)>SW3(flame proofing cotton). However, radiant heat protection performance (RHTI) and the heat transfer factor (TF) were indicated in the order of SW1>SW4>SW2>SW3 and showed different patterns from the convection heat protection performance. SW1 showed superior air permeability and water vapor permeability. The tensile strength and tear strength of welding protective clothing material were indicated in the order of SW4>SW2>SW3>SW1 and showed that a blend fabric of p-aramid was the most superior for the mechanical properties of SW4. SW1 had excellent heat transfer properties in yet met the minimum performance requirements of tensile strength proved to be inappropriate as being a material for welding protective clothing. The abrasion resistance of woven fabric proved superior compared to nonwoven fabric; however, seam strength and dimensional change both met the minimum performance requirements and indicated that all samples appeared non-hazardous. Finally, oxidant carbon/p-aramid blend fabric appeared appropriate as a protective clothing materials for welding.