Resistance of Navy Shipboard Work Clothing Materials to Extreme Heat.

Estimates of burn injury potential of Navy work clothing materials have been made by measuring retention of tensile properties during exposure to radiant heat; resistance to ignition; heat transfer during exposure to either radiant heat or flame impingement. Seventeen outerwear fabrics were tested, including polyester, cotton (normal and FR), wool, polyester/cotton, polyester/wool, polyester/rayon, nylon/cotton and Nomex/Kevlar blends of weights ranging from 3.5 to 10.3 oz/sq yd. Four underwear fabrics, both woven and knit, made from 100% cotton and 65/35 polyester/cotton were also included, as well as various outerwear/underwear combinations. The analytical work of Alice M. Stoll and her associates was extended to obtain an estimate of burn injury potential from heat transfer data. (Author)