QUALITATIVE EVALUATION OF PROTECTIVE FABRICS

Abstract Protective garments are designed to meet the dual needs of product/process protection and workers’ safety and comfort. In this paper, a qualitative evaluation of woven protective fabrics has been presented. The fabric parameters which are most important from the point of view of the user’s needs have been selected and analysed. Basic mechanical parameters such as breaking load, elongation at break and tear resistance were determined in certain example fabrics before and after the washing and sterilisation processes. The worker comfort was analysed by determining air and water vapour permeability and surface resistance. The barrier properties of fabrics were analysed by determining the efficiency of filtration and fabric porosity. The durability of fabrics was evaluated in respect of their ability to stand up to the washing and sterilisation processes, and of the analysis of fabric structure deformation under external loading.