Thermal resistance testing of standard and protective filtering military garment on the burning napalm mixture

Abstract

Fires are an accompanying manifestation in modern weaponry use and in case of different accidents in peacetime. The standard military uniform is a primary barrier in protection of a soldier’s body from all external influences, including the thermal ones which can cause burns. The minimum thermal resistance to the effect of burning napalm mixture (BNM) in individual uniform garment materials has been determined, and is higher at simultaneous use of more materials one over another (the so-called sandwich materials), where the best thermal protection give sandwich materials with an air interspace. The requirement for the thermal resistance of the material of the filtrating protective suit (FPS) to the effect of BNM (≥ 15 s) has been fully met. The highest thermal resistance has been demonstrated by the FPS whose inner layer is made of polyurethane foam with active carbon. A proportional dependence between the thermal resistance of FPS to the effect of BNM and water vapor permeability through this garment mean has been determined, and reversed in respect to air permeability. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. TR34034]

Keywords

• thermal resistance
• RCB protection
• physiological suitability
• burning napalm mixture