Trapezoidal tearing behavior of laminated fabrics used in Firefighters' protective clothing

Abstract Laminated fabrics offer a unique combination of properties and are widely used in various applications, including as moisture barriers in firefighters' protective clothing. Tearing is a common testing method used to evaluate the mechanical performance of laminated fabrics. However, limited information is available on the tearing behavior of laminated fabrics using the trapezoidal procedure. Using high‐speed imaging, this study examined the tearing process of three moisture barriers commonly used in firefighters' protective clothing. The results revealed that the tearing process varied depending on factors such as the structure of the base fabric, the presence of an extra coating on top of the membrane, and the continuous or discontinuous nature of the adhesive layer. This study provides insight into the effect of each component of a laminated fabric on the tearing process, and can inform the design of better performing moisture barriers. Highlights Study of trapezoidal tearing behavior of moisture barriers. Analysis by high‐speed imaging and field emission scanning electron microscope. Influence of base fabric, adhesive configuration, presence of extra coating. Cyclic tearing pattern for woven base fabric and dot adhesive. Continuous tearing for nonwoven base fabric and continuous adhesive.