The effect of moisture content within multilayer protective clothing on protection from radiation and steam.

The effect of moisture content within multilayer protective clothing on protection from radiation and steam. Int J Occup Saf Ergon. 2017 Apr 21;:1-36 Authors: Su Y, Li J, Song G Abstract The moisture from skin sweat and atmospheric water affects thermal protective performance provided by multilayer protective clothing. Four levels of moisture content were selected to evaluate the impact of moisture on thermal protection under dry (thermal radiation) and wet (thermal radiation and low-pressure steam) heat exposure. Also, the role of moisture and its relationship with exposure time were analyzed based on skin heat flux and Henriques integral value. It was found that the addition of moisture to a fabric system results in differences in second---- and third-degree skin burn times. When moisture is added to a fabric system, it both acts as a thermal conductor to present a negative effect and provides a positive effect owing to thermal storage of water and evaporative heat loss. The positive or negative effects of moisture are mainly dependent on thermal exposure time, moisture content, and the presence of hot steam. PMID: 28427297 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics - Category: Occupational Health Tags: Int J Occup Saf Ergon Source Type: research