- Author
- Kupferman, Z.
- Title
- Development of an Integral, Neoprene-Coated, Aluminized, Asbestos Cloth for Firefighters' Shipboard Coveralls. Technical Report.
- Coporate
- Natick Laboratories, MA
- Report
- Technical Report, August 1972, 103 p.
- Distribution
- Available from National Technical Information Service
- Keywords
- fire fighters | protective clothing | shipboard fires | asbestos | chloroprene resins | aluminum | test fires | durability | abrasion resistant coatings | tear strength | waterproof coatings
- Identifiers
- 1.2-pound asbestos cloth; 11-ounce glass/asbestos fabric; stiffness; wear resistance
- Abstract
- The Navy Clothing and Textile Research Unit (NCTRU) has developed an improved, neoprene-coated, aluminized, 1.2-pound asbestos (underwriter's grade) cloth to replace the neoprene-coated, aluminized, 11-ounce, glass/asbestos, cotton fabric for use in shipboard firefighter's coveralls. In prior testing, the neoprene-coated, aluminized, 1.2-pound asbestos cloth demonstrated significant improvements over the neoprene-coated, aluminized, 11-ounce, glass/asbestos, cotton fabric in both durabilty of the baisc cloth and abrasion resistance of the aluminum coating. The anticipated problems of excessive stiffness and weight and reduced tear strength that an integral neoprene coating would cause for the aluminized, 1.2-pound asbestos fabrid did not occur. The improved cloth showed only a slight increase in neoprene coating weight and stiffnes. Adequate water resistance was obtained whild the tear strength was not compromised as compared with the non-neoprene-coated, aluminized, 1.2-pound asbestos cloth. Garments made from this improved cloth were found to be satisfactory by firefighters for the desired end use. Test results also justify the use of this cloth as a replacement for the neoprene-coated, aluminized, 11-ounce, glass/asbestos, cotton fabric, used in firefighter's coveralls.