Article
Chemistry, Physical
Shouzhen Li, Xiaota Cheng, Guangting Han, Yang Si, Yitao Liu, Jianyong Yu, Bin Ding
Summary: Developing ceramic nanofibrous membranes for the thermal insulation layer of firefighting protective clothing is crucial. Previous membranes were brittle and lacked elastic and compressible properties. This study successfully fabricated elastic and compressible Al2O3/ZrO2/La2O3 nanofibrous membranes, which maintained excellent performance in a wide range of temperatures. These membranes have low thermal conductivity and high working temperatures, making them promising for thermal insulation in firefighting protective clothing.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Qiaoran Zhang, Lei Ma, Tiantian Xue, Jing Tian, Wei Fan, Tianxi Liu
Summary: This study introduces a novel double-layer smart textile made of polyimide aerogel fiber, which combines excellent fire resistance with thermal regulation. The outer layer reduces peak heat release rate, exhibiting outstanding fire resistance, while the inner layer delays temperature rise during phase change, providing cool somatosensory temperature for firefighters. The double-layer textile extends the time to pain threshold of human skin, showing great potential for next-generation firefighting clothing.
COMPOSITES PART B-ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Thermodynamics
Xinyi Lu, Jing Meng, Guilin Chen, Yehu Lu
Summary: Steam protective clothing is crucial in safeguarding workers from steam hazards. This study develops a numerical model to accurately simulate the heat and moisture transfer characteristics of thermal protective fabrics exposed to steam. Skin bio-heat transfer and burn integral models are integrated with the steam heat transfer model to predict skin burns. The findings show the significant influence of moisture transfer and fabric properties on steam protective performance.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF THERMAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Thermodynamics
Yun Su, Yuwei Fan, Yanliu Ma, Yunyi Wang, Guangju Liu
Summary: Phase change material (PCM) can enhance the thermal protection of clothing by adjusting heat transfer performance through thermal storage. A study was conducted to prepare PCM coated fabric with flame-retardant (FR) properties for firefighting protective clothing. The effects of FR type, FR content, and phase change temperature (PCT) on FR performance were analyzed. Experimental investigation revealed that the FR of organic silicon significantly reduced the heat release rate, while the phosphorus-nitrogen FR expanded the ignition time. The selection and configuration design of PCM coated fabric for firefighting protective clothing can benefit from this study.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF THERMAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Thermodynamics
Jiazhen He, Yehu Lu, Si Chen, Jia Lv
Summary: Thermal protective clothing can have a dual impact on human skin, both resisting heat transfer and causing thermal hazard through stored energy discharge. The size and position of the air gap in clothing affect the heat protective performance and thermal-hazardous performance.
CASE STUDIES IN THERMAL ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Civil
Andre Fonseca Malaquias, S. F. Neves, J. B. L. M. Campos
Summary: This study simulated heat and mass transport in thermal protective clothing (T.P.C) using numerical methods, finding that the presence of water in the outer shell increases second-degree burn times, while water in the inner layer has the opposite effect under high heat fluxes. The results also help in identifying environmental and protective clothing conditions where steam burns may become a potential hazard.
FIRE SAFETY JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Zhicai Yu, Yuhang Wan, Yi Qin, Qing Jiang, Jin-Ping Guan, Xian-Wei Cheng, Xiaochun Wang, Shengnan Ouyang, Xueru Qu, Zhenyu Zhu, Jinfeng Wang, Hualing He
Summary: This study successfully fabricated a lightweight and high fire safety smart thermal protective composite aerogel, which demonstrated efficient thermal buffer performance in response to high temperature and ultrasensitive fire warning response, providing high fire safety for firefighters.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Thermodynamics
Yun Su, Miao Tian, Jun Li, Xianghui Zhang, Peijia Zhao
Summary: This study examines the effect of heat and moisture transfer on steam burn in a coupled thermal hazardous environment. A coupled model on heat and moisture transfer is proposed and validated through experiments. The model accurately predicts the skin temperature and steam burn in the coupled thermal environment. The primary cause of skin burn in dry heat exposure is radiant heat transfer, while the existence of hot steam reduces radiant and conductive heat transfer. In wet heat exposure, the primary cause of skin burn is moisture phase change on the skin surface.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEAT AND MASS TRANSFER
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Meredith McQuerry, Elizabeth Easter
Summary: The cleaning practices of U.S. wildland firefighter personal protective clothing are widely unregulated and unknown, which may lead to severe health impacts. Most wildland firefighters do not follow the recommendations of the National Fire Protection Association when cleaning their gear, highlighting the need for practical and feasible standards.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Henry U. Ohalele, Mackenzie Fulton, David A. Torvi, Scott D. Noble, Jane C. Batcheller
Summary: The study found that with increasing heat flux, the tensile strength of Kevlar/PBI blended fabrics showed a significant decrease, and the duration of exposure also had an impact on tensile strength. When examining the effects of thermal aging on tensile strength, one must consider not only the maximum temperature that the fabric reaches, but also the complete temperature-time trace.
FIRE AND MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Ana Kalazic, Snjezana Brnada, Ana Kis
Summary: Firefighters in wildland fields face high temperatures and physical exertion. Research shows that heat stress is a common cause of injuries. This study focuses on the structural parameters of woven fabrics to find a balance between breathability and thermal protection.
Article
Materials Science, Textiles
Hongyang Wang, Junsheng Wang, Bi Zhao, Shengli Hu, Gang Xue, Jianjun Xia
Summary: This study investigated the effects of inclination angle, waterproof grade, and fabric structure of the flame retardant outer layer of firefighting protective clothing on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination and laundering. Results showed that fabric with a water repellent finish had increased adsorption capacity, and the outer layer absorbed more PAHs at 180 degrees inclination angle. The fabric structure with single layer had strong adsorption capacity and low removal capacity for PAHs.
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL TEXTILES
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Textiles
Mahipal Meena, Anjlina Kerketta, Manorama Tripathi, Prasun Roy, Josemon Jacob
Summary: In this study, a chemical and biological resistant waterproof breathable flame retardant moisture barrier fabric was developed by laminating a biaxially stretched microporous expanded polytetraflouroethylene (ePTFE) membrane with Activated Carbon Fabric. The laminate exhibited excellent waterproofness, breathability, flame resistance, and protection against biological and chemical warfare agents.
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL TEXTILES
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Civil
S. Krzeminska, M. Szewczynska
Summary: The concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in firefighter protective clothing was determined under different conditions. The study found that the total PAH concentration was strongly dependent on use conditions and clothing layer. PAH concentration was approximately 10-12 times higher in clothing worn during fire suppression compared to clothing worn during live-fire simulation.
FIRE SAFETY JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Thermodynamics
Song Lv, Juwen Ren, Yin Lai, Zhihao Chang, Bolong Zhang, Jiahao Yang, Yishuang Ji, Yitong Ji, Zuoqin Qian
Summary: Solar-driven evaporation is a focus of research and development due to its potential applications in desalination, power generation, and solar fuel production. This study presents a novel and cost-effective solar desalination system using non-woven fabrics, carbon powder, and polystyrene foam. The system achieves a solar steam conversion efficiency of 85.3% and an evaporation rate of 1.23 kg (m2 h)-1 under specific irradiance and temperature conditions. Simulation analysis is conducted to investigate the effects of various factors on evaporation efficiency, providing insights for optimizing the system's performance.
APPLIED THERMAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Textiles
Sumit Mandal, Guowen Song, Rene M. Rossi, Indu B. Grover
Summary: This study focused on characterizing and modeling thermal protective fabrics used in workwear under Molotov cocktail exposure. Significant fabric properties affecting the performance were identified, with thermal resistance and evaporative resistance found to negatively affect the transmitted thermal energy. The study concluded that the ANN model outperformed the MLR model in predicting protective performance.
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL TEXTILES
(2022)
Review
Polymer Science
Jean Schoeller, Fabian Itel, Karin Wuertz-Kozak, Giuseppino Fortunato, Rene M. Rossi
Summary: Electrospun nanofibrous membranes with high surface-to-volume ratio and smart responsiveness are of great interest in biomedical and environmental applications due to their ability to trigger chemical and physical changes in response to environmental pH-changes.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Lars Lueder, Agnes Gubicza, Michael Stiefel, Jan Overbeck, Davide Beretta, Amin Sadeghpour, Antonia Neels, Peter N. Nirmalraj, Rene M. Rossi, Claudio Toncelli, Michel Calame
Summary: This study introduces a fast and reliable method for the interfacial synthesis of conductive MOF films using two different organic ligands, HHTP and TCNQ, to achieve good electrical conductivity and chemiresistive response. The hybrid nature of the discontinuous film is investigated multiparametrically by various microscopy techniques and Raman spectroscopy. Including different types of MOFs proves to be a good compromise between structural order and conductivity, making hybrid framework architectures a promising active material for chemiresistive sensors without requiring high crystallinity.
ADVANCED ELECTRONIC MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Anjani K. Maurya, Eloise Mias, Jean Schoeller, Ines E. Collings, Rene M. Rossi, Alex Dommann, Antonia Neels
Summary: Electrospinning is a versatile technique used to produce nanofibrous membranes with applications in various fields. By changing the parameters of electrospinning, the properties of PVDF-HFP fibers can be tuned, including mechanical properties and the piezoelectric beta-phase. Through the use of various characterization techniques, changes in fiber alignment and polymeric chain rearrangements at the molecular scale can be observed, which are crucial for the design and production of fibrous membranes.
NANOSCALE ADVANCES
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Kamran Iranshahi, Jean Schoeller, Nicolas Luisier, Michael Chung, Sina Hashemizadeh, Giuseppino Fortunato, Thijs Defraeye, Rene M. Rossi
Summary: This paper explores the impact of solution properties on improving the electrospinning throughput through experimental and theoretical research. It is found that adding polysiloxane additives can significantly improve the production rate of nanofibrous scaffolds by reducing solution surface tension and increasing solution viscosity. Adjusting solution properties is a key factor in increasing electrospinning throughput.
ACS APPLIED POLYMER MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Farzan Gholamreza, Yang Su, Ruoyao Li, Anupama Vijaya Nadaraja, Robert Gathercole, Ri Li, Patricia Dolez, Kevin Golovin, Rene M. Rossi, Simon Annaheim, Abbas S. Milani
Summary: This study presents a numerical model of a sweating torso to predict the thermophysiological comfort properties of fabric systems. The model shows good agreement with experimental results over different exposure phases. It allows for a systematic investigation of the effects of fabric properties, environmental conditions, and physiological parameters on the thermophysiological comfort properties of the fabric system.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Goekhan Kara, Sami Bolat, Khushdeep Sharma, Matthias J. J. Grotevent, Dmitry N. N. Dirin, Dominik Bachmann, Roman Furrer, Luciano F. F. Boesel, Yaroslav E. E. Romanyuk, Rene M. Rossi, Maksym V. V. Kovalenko, Michel Calame, Ivan Shorubalko
Summary: This work successfully integrates an infrared photodetector with a polymer optical fiber, by wrapping graphene around the fiber and inkjet printing PbS quantum dots onto the curved surface. The resulting device acts as a functional coating and can detect infrared light without interrupting the waveguide. This cost-effective and adaptable hybrid detector approach brings us closer to multifunctional e-textiles and improved interfacing of the skin for wearable and non-invasive healthcare applications.
ADVANCED MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES
(2023)
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Aleksandra Ivanoska-Dacikj, Yesim Oguz-Gouillart, Gaffar Hossain, Muslum Kaplan, Caglar Sivri, Jose Vicente Ros-Lis, Daiva Mikucioniene, Muhammad Usman Munir, Nuray Kizildag, Serkan Unal, Ivo Safarik, Esra Akgul, Nida Yildirim, Ayse Celik Bedeloglu, Omer Faruk Unsal, Gordon Herwig, Rene M. Rossi, Peter Wick, Pietro Clement, A. Sezai Sarac
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the textile and apparel industry. Despite the negative effects, such as supply chain disruptions and decreased demand, it has also accelerated the digitalization trend and the use of functional materials in the industry. This review paper focuses on the development of smart and advanced textiles in response to the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2, including monitoring and sensing capabilities through electrospun nanofibers and nanogenerators, as well as improved antiviral capabilities in medical textiles. The paper also highlights challenges in personal protective equipment disposal and provides an overview of new smart textile-based products for controlling and reducing the spread of SARS-CoV-2.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Lars Lueder, Peter Niraj Nirmalraj, Antonia Neels, Rene Michel Rossi, Michel Calame
Summary: Wearable sensors can provide important insight into a patient's health status by monitoring the concentration of specific biomarkers in body fluids. The integration of nanoporous metal-organic framework (MOF) particles with nitrocellulose (NC) fibrous layers using an electrospinning approach has been demonstrated, showing the efficiency of the MOF@NC structure as biosensors. The sensitivity and selectivity of this approach make it a promising platform for versatile and adaptable sensing of biomarkers.
ACS APPLIED NANO MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Textiles
Florence Biguenet, Rolf Staempfli, Sascha Kruegl, Teo Georges, Dominique Dupuis, Rene M. Rossi, Marie-Ange Bueno
Summary: This study investigates the distribution of liquid in knitted fabrics using X-ray tomography, and finds that changes in hydrophobicity and porosity are the main factors affecting liquid distribution.
TEXTILE RESEARCH JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Nicolas P. Fromme, Adrian Esser, Martin Camenzind, Veit Mylius, Christian Baumann, Fabian Buechele, Robert Riener, Peter Wolf, Rene M. Rossi
Summary: This article introduces a new controlled energy dissipating suppression orthosis for the treatment of tremor. The orthosis has a decentralized suppression mechanism and integrated textiles, achieving tremor suppression rates of 78.8%, 66.5%, and 40.8% in simulations, test benches, and case studies, respectively, without any voluntary movement suppression.
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON MEDICAL ROBOTICS AND BIONICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jean Schoeller, Karin Wuertz-Kozak, Stephen J. J. Ferguson, Markus Rottmar, Jonathan Avaro, Yvonne Elbs-Glatz, Michael Chung, Rene M. Rossi
Summary: The ability of poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) nanofibers to release ibuprofen for the treatment of chronic wounds was evaluated. The electrospinning of different compositions of poly(ethylene-co-vinyl alcohol) copolymers was optimized, and the release kinetics of ibuprofen from the nanofibers at different temperatures were studied. The scaffolds also showed no cytotoxicity to normal human fibroblasts, indicating their potential for use in chronic wound treatment.
NANOSCALE ADVANCES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Robert Fischer, Jean Schoeller, Rene M. Rossi, Dominique Derome, Jan Carmeliet
Summary: Pronounced fingering of the waterfront occurs during in-plane wicking in thin, aligned electrospun fibrous membranes. A non-local transport model considering the waterfront gradient and correlated random field is developed to explain this phenomenon. The size and shape of the fingers formed during wicking depend on the fiber orientation.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Mohammad-Reza Norouzi, Laleh Ghasemi-Mobarakeh, Fabian Itel, Jean Schoeller, Hossein Fashandi, Aurelio Borzi, Antonia Neels, Giuseppino Fortunato, Rene M. Rossi
Summary: In this study, sodium alginate/poly(epsilon-caprolactone) core/shell nanofibers were successfully fabricated via water-in-oil emulsion electrospinning. The optimal emulsion conditions were determined, and the nanofibers were characterized using various techniques. The results demonstrated the favorable biocompatibility of the nanofibers, making them a promising material for biomedical applications.
NANOSCALE ADVANCES
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Joshua Avossa, Gordon Herwig, Claudio Toncelli, Fabian Itel, Rene Michel Rossi
Summary: Electrospinning is a powerful technology for producing membranes with unique properties. However, the commonly used solvents in this technology are halogenated and toxic, which are now restricted in the European Union. To make electrospinning more commercially viable and environmentally friendly, alternative solvents and green approaches need to be established. This review provides an overview of the current ecological and economical context of electrospinning and summarizes recent approaches towards green electrospinning.
