The University of Alberta collaborated with the industries to develop a sensor. This sensor helps to detect deterioration in protective clothing, firefighters, and others in hazardous work situations.
It is very much risky to the firefighters using aging protective gear and lives battling blazes. The main objective of the research is to reduce that risk with a sensor. The sensor can detect the gradual breakdown in garments on exposure to heat, moisture, and ultraviolet (UV) light.
The clothing and textiles scientist Patricia Dolez said that the fibers lose their performance by ages. She also added that this sensor technology is a breakthrough in terms of safety for workers exposed to heat and flame. The performance of the garments will be reduced gradually, which may not be visible to the naked eye.
Davey Textile Solutions and other industry partners joined in the development of the product. These are Edmonton-based companies.
The sensor patch uses graphene. Graphene is composed of carbon atoms and it is a flaky substance, which forms conductive tracks on the patch’s surface. The graphene track loses its electrical conductivity when exposed to moisture, heat, or UV light that exceeds a certain level. Though the sensor is still at the stage of development, it has been provisionally patented. It comes at an optimal time.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) upgrades its recommendations on garment maintenance. The major concern is caused by fire-associated harmful substances which leach into the fabric. This results in an underlying threat of diseases such as cancer.
“The current recommendation is to wash firefighting garments twice a year, but the problem is all the existing data that determines when the clothing needs to be replaced is based on that once- or twice-a-year washing,” she said.
Davey Textile Solutions is one of five industry partners working with Dolenz. It manufactured the fire-resistant fabrics that will be used as part of the sensor patch. The sensors could be used in any industry and under any conditions like electrical, oil and gas, mining, and construction industries
“This is an example of how we try to be ahead of the curve to provide new proactive items to the marketplace,” said Lawson, noting that one of the biggest questions for clients in heavy industry is knowing when to retire personal protective equipment (PPE). “The sensor takes the ambiguity out of that question.”
One student worked with Davey Textiles Solutions through the Human Ecology Practicum Programme. This student developed a business case for market applications for the sensor.
From the words of Dolez, it is clear that the main motive is to develop a product that is relevant to the industry. On collaborating with Davey Textile Solutions, it is ensured that the developed products will end up being used in the industry.
The Department of Human Ecology collaborated with the U of A’s Protective Clothing and Equipment Research Facility. This collaboration is to research the sensor technology which is the latest in a series of projects. The other projects include developing clothing to protect workers against steam burns.
At present, Dolez collaborated with Davey Textile Solutions to develop methods in the industry. It includes recycling cotton-based material from used industrial coveralls, otherwise destined for the landfill, into fibers that can be used to make new textiles.
Natural Sciences and Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Strategic Partnership Grant funds the research and there are other industries including Davey Textile Solutions who provided in-kind support.
