Performance evaluation of conventional and hybrid woven fabrics for the development of sustainable personal protective clothing

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2020-09, Vol.27 (27), p.33835-33847
• Main Authors: Memon, Arshad Hussain, Peerzada, Mazhar Hussain, Brohi, Khan Muhammad, Memon, Sheeraz Ahmed, Mangi, Sajjad Ali
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abrasion; Abrasion resistance; Adsorption; Adsorptivity; Aluminum; Aquatic organisms; Aquatic Pollution; Aramid fibers; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Blast furnace iron mixers; Blast furnace slags; Cadmium; Chromium; Coal industry; Copper; Cutting resistance; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; Environmental science; Fly ash; Heavy metals; Iron and steel industry; Iron constituents; Kevlar (trademark); Metals; Performance evaluation; pH effects; Plastic pollution; Pollutants; Pollution control; Protective clothing; Research Article; Silicon; Steel industry; Sustainable development; Synthetic fibers; Taguchi methods; Waste Water Technology; Water Management; Water Pollution Control; Woven fabrics; Yarns; Zinc
• ISSN: 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-020-09610-6

This study examines the performance level of hybrid woven protective clothing (HWPC), manufactured from Kevlar® (K) and Ramie (R) yarns. The weave structures (plain, twill 1/3) and variables fiber ratios were used to produce HWPC. The performance level of HWPC was measured according to EN 388:2016. We came to the conclusion that blade cut resistance of plain and twill structure sustained protection level up to increase of KR 80:20 and KR 70:30, respectively; puncture resistance of K100% and HWPC remained in the same level of protection for plain and twill weaves; Abrasion resistance of K100% and HWPC of plain and twill weaves samples presented abrasive performance of same protection level, but the average number of cycles sustained for twill weave samples was slightly higher than plain weave. However, comparing the plain and twill weaves sample for tear resistance, twill weave samples have higher tear resistance than plain weave. A gray relational analysis and Taguchi method was performed to optimize the performance of two structures with variable fiber ratios. It was established that the article produced with K&R yarns with KR 80:20 ratio and twill weave presented the best performance against all test runs. The main objective of this study is to reduce plastic pollution by reducing the amount of synthetic fiber proportion in personal protective clothing and thereby reducing the dependence on nonrenewable sources for synthetic fiber. The 41 g/m 2 reduction of Kevlar® fiber has been made in a conventional PC with ramie fiber, without compromising the protection level. This will enhance the sustainability of HWPC.