Development of an advanced personal protection equipment fabric for protection against slashes

Knife is the most commonly used single weapon in the UK, being 32% of the weapons employed in a violent incident. Studies reveal that majority (63.3%) of the knife inflicted wounds were slash type and could be disfiguring or life threatening if the blood vessels are ruptured. The stab resistant armours that are currently available do not protect the arms, neck and face as they are very rigid and heavy to be worn comfortably for everyday use for security personnel and are also expensive for the civilian population. During the research programme, various composite yarns consisting of; a) blends of Spectra® (Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene), glass and polyamide; b) Stainless steel core with wraps of Dyneema® (Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene) and polyester; and c) Kevlar®, in different compositions, were thoroughly investigated to determine the most appropriate yarn for the slash proof materials. The slash proof fabric structures were developed by using knitting technology as it offers significant advantages in terms of cost, design flexibility and versatility. Different fabrics using the appropriate yarn were developed using various knitting criteria. Since there was neither any literature published for slash resistant fabrics nor any comparable fabric availability, the developed fabrics were tested against each other using a test method stipulated for slash proof application. The fabrics were also tested for their thermophysiological and flame resistant properties using a wide range of test methods and procedures. Due to the probable application of slash resistant fabrics, i.e. outer wear in open atmosphere, the developed fabrics were also characterized after exposing 5 years equivalent of UVA/B radiation. This research programme has led to some extremely successful and innovative outcomes including the granting of a full patent. One of the major findings has been that a two-layered knitted structure produced by using a combination of composite and staple-fibre aramid yarns helps to withstand a higher impact force during the slash attack. It was also established that the designed racked structure in the fabric not only provides resistance to the continuous movement of the knife blade but also increases the overall slash resistance capability of the protective fabric. The research has also led to some recommendations for further work in order to re-confirm some of the findings established during the study and also to improve the structure by reducing the area density of the slash resistant fabrics further due to the changes in the pass criteria of the slash resistant standard, set as a direct outcome of this research

A study of the modelling and characterisation of compression garments for hypertrophic scarring after burns. Part 1: Modelling of compression garments

Skin burns are usually caused by contact with fire, heat, electricity, light, radiation, hazardous chemicals and friction. The degree of the burn is classed based on the extent and depth of the burn. A third-degree burn is classed as a severe burn and compression therapy is universally accepted as the treatment to manage hypertrophic scarring caused after such burns. This paper describes the types of burns and the different types of treatments available and reviews the types of compression garments that are commercially available for the management of hypertrophic scarring after severe burns. The Laplace equation that is used to model a pattern-cutting chart has been refined to predict the sub-garment pressure more accurately, irrespective of the shape and size of the limb. This model's accuracy was further validated by constructing garments for the arms and legs of a male volunteer and measuring the actual pressures by using a Kikuhime pressure measuring device

A study of the modelling and characterisation of compression garments for hypertrophic scarring after burns. Part 2: Characterisation of compression garments

Compression therapy is the universally accepted treatment for the management of hypertrophic scarring after severe burns. A review of the type of treatments for burns and type of compression garments commercially available is discussed in Part 1 of this paper (Anand, Kanchi Govarthanam, & Gazioglu, in press). A refined model was also designed to predict the sub-garment pressure more accurately, irrespective of the shape and size of the limb (see Part 1, in press). The thermophysiological properties of the compression garment provide comfort by preserving body temperature and moisture output close to their normal levels. In this study, the dimensional, mechanical and thermophysiological properties of four fabrics procured from different sources were thoroughly studied and compared. The study was aimed at the determination of their suitability to be utilised for the management of hypertrophic scarring. It was established that one of the fabrics investigated possessed superior properties in comparison to the other three fabrics. It was also demonstrated that the characteristics of this particular fabric can be further enhanced for its suitability for use as a compression garment for this specific area of application

Development of an advanced personal protective equipment garment for protection against slashes and pathogenic bacteria. Part 1: Development and evaluation of slash resistant garments

Knife is the most commonly used single weapon in the UK, being 32% of the weapons employed in violent incidents. Studies reveal that the majority (63.3%) of the knife inflicted wounds were slash type and could be disfiguring or life threatening if the blood vessels are ruptured. The stab resistant armours currently available do not protect the arms, neck and face as they are very rigid to be worn comfortably and are expensive and heavy for everyday use by the civilian population. The main objectives of this research programme are; a) to develop and characterise a novel cut resistant and slash proof material that is lightweight, comfortable and efficient; and b) to integrate barrier properties in such garments which would incorporate suitable antimicrobial and other suitable chemicals to provide protection against a range of micro organisms. During this research programme, various composite yarns were thoroughly investigated, at different proportions, to determine the most appropriate yarn for the slash proof material. The slash proof fabric structures were developed by using knitting technology as it offers significant advantages in terms of cost, design flexibility and versatility. The fabrics were characterised by using the most stringent test method stipulated for a slash proof application, namely, Home Office Scientific Development Branch (HOSDB) Slash Resistance Standard for UK Police (2006), Publication No. 48/05. The paper discusses the results obtained during the development of the novel slash proof material for the police, armed forces, children and the public, that is lightweight, comfortable and efficient, and can be utilised for long periods

Interaction of a non-aqueous solvent system on bamboo, cotton, polyester and their blends : the effect on abrasive wear resistance.

This article investigates the use of Trichloroacetic acid-Methylene chloride (TCAMC) solvent system with a view to study the abrasive wear resistance of bamboo, cotton, organic cotton, polyester (PES), cotton/bamboo and polyester/cotton blended woven fabrics. The fabrics were treated with different concentrations of 1%, 5% and 10% of TCAMC for 5, 30 and 60 mins at room temperature. Martindale Abrasion Tester was employed to test the abrasive wear resistance of fabrics. The weight loss of fabrics was checked after every 1000 abrasive cycles. The results suggest that the bamboo fabric, without TCAMC treatment, possesses an abrasive wear resistance that is comparable to that of organic cotton fabric. However, cotton/bamboo blend fabric was found to have enhanced abrasion wear resistance than that of 100% bamboo fabric. The results also indicate that the TCAMC treatment enhanced the abrasion wear resistance of 100% bamboo and 100% organic cotton fabrics. The treatment does not influence the wear resistance of 100% cotton and its blends. The abrasive wear resistance of untreated polyester (PES) fabric was tested and compared with cellulosics and it was found that PES possessed higher abrasive wear resistance. However, the abrasive wear resistance of TCAMC treated PES decreased considerably

Development of advanced personal protective equipment fabrics for protection against slashes and pathogenic bacteria: Part 2: Development of antimicrobial hygiene garments and their characterization

Knife is the most commonly used single weapon in the UK and studies reveal that majority of the knife inflicted wounds were slash type that could be disfiguring or life threatening. Currently available stab resistant armours do not protect the arms, neck and face as they are rigid to be worn comfortably for everyday use. The main objectives of this research programme are; a) to develop and characterise a novel cut resistant and slash proof material that is lightweight, comfortable and efficient; and b) to integrate barrier properties in such garments which would incorporate suitable antimicrobial and other suitable chemicals to provide protection against a range of micro organisms. The design and development of novel slash proof materials for the police, armed forces, children and the public, that is lightweight, comfortable and efficient was discussed in Part 1 of this series. This part discusses the application and study of antimicrobial properties on this novel two-layered weft knitted slash resistant fabric that has only 13.6% of its fibres effectively available for incorporation of antibacterial agents. The anti-bacterial formulation was applied at different concentrations onto the fabric using pad-dry-cure method. Antimicrobial properties of the treated fabrics were evaluated using modified AATCC Test method 147-1998 against common pathogenic bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. It was found that the formulation with 10% concentration showed optimum antimicrobial property with good washing fastness. The durability of the antimicrobial agents were evaluated, both with and without cross-linking agents, for up to 10 washes and better washing fastness was achieved with a cross-linking agent on the face knitted with the composite WF 528 yarn