An investigation into the ease of ice removal properties of fabrics used for the outer layer of firefighter clothing

Abstract

The ease of ice removal (EIR) property indicates how easy it will be to remove ice from materials. In this study, an EIR coating was built on to the outer layer of firefighter clothing using polyurethane-2540, Teflon emulsion, nano-silica powder, copper powder and fluorine-containing water and oil-repellent-581 using a knife coating method. This coating adds an EIR function to the fabrics. The properties of the samples prepared in this paper were investigated using field emission scanning electron microscopy, a video optical contact angle measuring instrument (OCA15), an impedance analyzer (KEYSIGHT E4991B) and an EIR property tester. At the same time, the thermal protective performance (TPP) of the samples, before and after coating treatment, was studied using a TPP tester. The results show that the EIR coating can significantly increase the EIR property of the fabrics used for the outer layer of firefighter clothing. Mechanical forces between the material and ice have obvious influence on the freezing adhesive strength. Materials with lower permittivity have lower freezing adhesive strength. The EIR coating described in this paper can increase the TPP of the fabrics.

Keywords

ease of ice removal property coating firefighter clothing freezing adhesion strength permittivity surface topography

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