POLYMER: FIREFIGHTER JACKET

VRT3013: MATERIAL TECHNOLOGY (GROUP A)

POLYMER: FIREFIGHTER
JACKETEBOOK (CONTENT)

PROFESOR MADYA DR. MOHAMED NOR AZHARI BIN AZMAN

GROUP MEMBERS 3 SITI ZULAIKHA
BINTI NAZARI
1
D20192091315
JUREEN 2
BINTI JULIUS 4
MARTINA RISAP
D20192091296
ANAK BETAR
ERTINA IKOL
D20192091321
D20192091300

5 6 7

NAZURAH BINTI SITI AINNUR INTAN NUR
AHMAD SUKI HUSNA BINTI FARAH
MOHD DAUD
D20201093471 IDAYU BINTI
D20201093477 AB. RAZAB

D20201093479

TABLE OF CONTENTS

01 02 03 04

INTRODUCTION TYPE OF HOW IT IS WHY
MATERIAL THAT RESISTANT TO POLYBENZIMIDAZOLE
INTENSE HEAT
USED IN FIBER USED FOR
FIREFIGHTER FIREFIGHTER

JACKET PROTECTIVE CLOTHES

TABLE OF CONTENTS

05 06 07

CHARACTERISTIC ADVANTAGES AND CONCLUSION
OF FIREFIGHTER DISADVANTAGES OF
NOMEX AND KEVLAR
JACKET (FIREFIGHTER JACKET)

01

INTRODUCTION

The introduction of polymer

❑ Polymers are everywhere. As we know, we are indeed

surrounded by polymers. This can be easily shown in our daily
life such as the silicone rubber tips on the phone’s earbuds, the
nylon, polyester in the jacket or sneakers and plastic water bottle
which is so common in our daily use.

❑ By definition, polymer is any of a class natural or synthetics

substances composed of very large molecules, called
macromolecules, that are multiples of simpler chemical units
called monomers. Polymers make up many of the materials in
living organisms, including, for example, proteins, cellulose, and
nucleic acids.

❑ There are 3 principal classes of polymers which are

thermoplastics, thermosets, and elastomers. Differentiation
between these classes is best defined by their behaviour under
applied heat.

What is firefighter
jacket made of?

Firefighters wear suits made of Nomex or
Kevlar. Both are fire-resistant materials
which help to protect firefighter from
catching aflame or from sustaining burns
when nearby fire. Sometimes, Nomex and
Kevlar are blended together.

02

TYPE OF MATERIAL THAT USED IN
FIREFIGHTER JACKET

What is Nomex and Kevlar?

WHAT IS NOMEX

Nomex fiber is a member of the aramid family of 1
fibers, and is similar in appearance to nylon.

Used in application requiring good textile properties, 2
good dimensional stability and excellent heat
resistance.

Nomex is a synthetic aromatic polyamide (Aps) 3
polymer that offers high levels of electrical,
chemical and mechanical integrity.

WHAT IS KEVLAR

1 Kevlar is a brand name for a very strong artificial material
that is not damaged by high temperatures.

2 Kevlar is a material formed by combining para-
phenylenediamine (PPD) and terephthaloyl chloride
(TCL).
Kevlar is commercially available aramid fiber
3 with excellent heat resistance and high
stiffness related to other aramid variants like
Nomex.
4 Kevlar is over ten tomes stronger than steel in
tensile strength, pound for pound.

CHARACTERISTICS NOMEX
AND KEVLAR

• Typical lightweight and flexible.
• Protects the skin from exposure to fire when extinguishing

fires.
• Prevents fabric from splitting and corroding.
• Exceptional strength.
• Exceptional heat and flame resistance.
• Resistant to stretch and abrasion.

Difference between INFO
Nomex and Kevlar?
➢ Polyamide means lots of molecues
Nomex is polyamide (PA), Kevlar is para-
Aramid. This substitution pattern around the are connected together into chains. In
aromatic ring causes the different properties, chemistry, “poly” really just means
kevlar has a greater elastic modulus making it “many,” so polyamide means “many
tough whereas nomex changes its amide.”
confirmation with heat. ➢ “Para” refers to the specific linkage

Link Youtube:- position of the aromatic rings.
https://youtu.be/72vOt3ggiPI

03

HOW IT IS RESISTANT TO INTENSE
HEAT

HOW IT IS RESISTANT TO INTENSE HEAT?

Most structural firefighting gear consists of three elements.

- The outermost is a hard wearing shell made from a blend of

artificial fibers such as nomex and kevlar. This usually woven very
densely in some sort of ripstop configuration to limit tear sizes. This outer
shell typically has a very high thermal degradation temperature and
serves to protect the wearer physically from the direct effects of the
environment including potentially very short duration flame impingment
though this is not typically recommended.

- The second component is a moisture barrier such as Gortex. This helps

to prevent the firefighter from getting burned by hot steam and simultaneously
allows a limited amount of breathability to allow the firefighter to cool off by
sweating.

- The point to note however is that while the nomex outer layer does have
reasonably low thermal conductivity neither of these components provide much

thermal protection. The primary thermal protection comes from the

assembly/design of the garment. The two layers mentioned before are not
connected together except using a couple of clips at the seams. This leaves an
air pocket between the two layers that serves as the insulation. This is remarkable
to think that all that protect firefighters is a thin layer of air but it is easy to see the
effects of this air layer being removed.

- One additional component to a firefighters

gear who is expected to have to approach very
close to very high temperatures such as

burning jet fuel is the addition of an outside
metallic reflective coating that

serves to protect the other layers and the
wearer from very high radiant heat transfer.

04

WHY POLYBENZIMIDAZOLE FIBER
USED FOR FIREFIGHTER
PROTECTIVE CLOTHES?

Why Polybenzimidazole (PBI) fiber is used for
firefighter protective clothes?

❑ PBI are known for their high-strength and high-temperature performance.
❑ A high-performance fiber with high chemical resistance that does not burn

in air. It has no melting point and does not drip when exposed to flame.
❑ The fiber and fabrics from PBI retain their flexibility, dimensional stability,

and significant strength without embrittlement even when exposed to flame
or extreme heat.
❑ The fiber emits little smoke in extreme conditions. It processes well on
conventional textile equipment, having processing characteristics similar to
polyester.
❑ It can be used in 100% form or blended with other fibers. It has a high
moisture regain and low modulus with comfort properties similar to cotton.

Types of Polybenzimidazole (PBI) Info
However, PBI Gold are more
1 2 way better than PBI Matrix.
PBI Gold blends 40 PBI Matrix employs a This is because PBI Gold can
percent thermal-resistant “power grid,” a durable resist under extreme heat and
PBI fibers with 60 percent matrix of high-strength flame exposure. It also
high-strength aramid, aramid filaments woven provides firefighter and
resulting in a fabric which into the PBI Gold fabric to industrial workers with
does not shrink, become enhance and reinforce its superior protection and has
brittle, or break open resistance to wear and tear been used for a long time.
under extreme heat and while retaining its superior Rather than PBI Matrix, it has
flame exposure. flame and heat protection. just been introduced in 2003.
This durable matrix are only to
Link Youtube: Link Youtube: enchance and reinforce while
https://youtu.be/lgS5mqR https://youtu.be/eA_GW6 retaining superior flame and
heat protection.
BFvs mKZTM

05

CHARACTERISTIC OF FIREFIGHTER
JACKET

Characteristic of firefighter Jacket

3. Yellow and silver 1. Outer layer
lines ➢ Made of fireproof

➢ Have bright synthetic thread
properties to nomex and Kevlar
ensure the
firemen visible in 2. Inner layer part
dark ➢ consist of

LIFE SPAN membrane
➢ 3-5 years depend on layer , thermal
barrier and
the usage, 10 years if lining.
never been used
➢ Fireproof outfits that
use heat resistant
quality materials 500-
600 degree celcius

06

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
OF NOMEX AND KEVLAR (FIREFIGHTER

JACKET)

ADVANTAGES

of Nomex and Kevlar (Firefighter Jacket)

Saving lives
• A firefighter's tunic is made from fire

resistant, synthetic fabric which retains its
structural strength after fire exposure, and
resists cuts and tears. It provides a good
level of protection without exacerbating
the metabolic heat stress of the firefighter.

• Avoid human from getting injured when
touching hot materials such as gloves

• Avoid human from getting cancer because
of used absess fiber material

ADVANTAGES

of Nomex and Kevlar (Firefighter Jacket)

To prevent environmental pollution.
The proper use of polymer materialas
likes Nomex and Kevlar can reduce
the rate of manufacturing where we
apply 3M (Reuse, Reduce and recycle)
in our life and from that, it can
prevent the environment from being
contaminated with excess of these
polymer materials.

DISADVANTAGES

of Nomex and Kevlar (Firefighter Jacket)

CHRONIC EFFECTS
-Processing Kevlar or machining materials containing
Kevlar may create fiber dust in the air small enough to
be breather into the lungs. Based on animal tests,
breathing this dust at very high concentration
repeatedly over long periods of time may cause lung

injury (fibrosis).

INHALATION
-Kevlar fiber is too big to inhale into the lungs, but fiber
dust and fly from processing may be breathed into the
nose and throat. Working unprotected in dusty
conditions may cause upper respiratory irritation and
cold-like symptoms.

DISADVANTAGES

of Nomex and Kevlar (Firefighter Jacket)

The manufacturing of Kevlar does however have an
effect on the environment and is less sustainable. One of
the main substances used in the production of Kevlar is
sulphuric acid (H2SO4) .The sulphuric acid is used to keep
the Kevlar in solution during the spinning process.
Sulphuric acid is very toxic to animals and plants and if
disposed of or used incorrectly, it can do great harm. The
use of concentrated sulphuric acid is also very hard and
can thus also effect the sustainability of its use.

Info

Sulphuric acid, also known as oil of vitriol, is a mineral
acid composed of the elements sulfur, oxygen and hydrogen,
with molecular formula H2SO4. It is a colorless, odorless
and viscous liquid that is miscible with water at all
concentrations.
Link Youtube: https://youtu.be/100Bk580mPY

07

CONCLUSION

CONCLUSION

In a nutshell, Nomex and Kevlar do indeed provide many
advantages to firefighters. It can protect their physical limbs
from being injured or burned by sparks. Thus, it can be seen
that nomex and kevlar materials are very important to rescue
personnel such as firefighters in carrying out their
responsibilities as saviors of the world. However, we cannot
escape the disadvantages where the use of nomex and kevlar
materials can affect the physical environment and even the
human environment.

References

Bulletproof fabric (RS incorporated). (n.d.). Bulletproof Fabric (RS Incorporated). Retrives from,
https://kevlar-fabric.simplesite.com/442603453

Environmental impact and sustainability. (2016). Kevlar. Retrived from,
https://kevlarweb.wordpress.com/environmental-impact-and-sustainability/

Fahmy (2019, Jan 15) 'Sekatan' ganti perisai lusuh. Retrieved from
https://www.hmetro.com.my/utama/2019/01/412188/sekatan-ganti-perisai-lusuh

Fire Apparatus& Emergency Equipment. (2010). Understanding Turnout Gear. Retrived from,
https://www.fireapparatusmagazine.com/ems/understanding-turnout-gear/

Gooch, J. W. (2011). Polybenzimidazole fiber. SpringerLink. Retrived from,
https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007%2F978-1-4419-6247-8_8984

Kara Rogers (n.d). Polymer. Retrived from,
https://www.britannica.com/science/polymer

Mechanical Online. (2013). What is Nomex: Nomex. Slideshare, Retrived from,
https://pt.slideshare.net/maxpayne786/nomex/2

NASA. (2018). Polymer fabric protects firefighters, military, and civilians | NASA spinoff. NASA Spinoff. Retrived from,
https://spinoff.nasa.gov/Spinoff2008/ps_3.html

Pbi. (2015). CROW. Retrived from
https://polymerdatabase.com/polymer%20classes/Polybenzimidazole%20type.html

Pearson Education (2014). Introduction To Polymer Science.
https://www.informit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=2235827

Sid Perkins. (2017). Explainer: What Are Polymer?. Retrived from,
https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/explainer-what-are-polymers

Son Education. (2014). Introduction To Polymer Science. Retrived from,
https://www.informit.com/articles/article.aspx?p=2235827

Team ScienceABC. (2021). What Is Kevlar: What Is Kevlar? Why Are Kevlar Vest Bulletproof?. Retrived from,
https://www.scienceabc.com/innovation/what-is-kevlar-material-clothing-why-kevlar-armor-vests-bulletproof.html

Woodford. (2020). What is exactly Kevlar: Kevlar. EXPLAINTHATSTUFF. Retrived from,
https://www.explainthatstuff.com/kevlar.html

QUIZ PRACTICE

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