INVESTIGATION OF THERMO-PHYSIOLOGICAL COMFORT PROPERTIES OF COMPOSITE YARN GLOVES

Abstract

With the increasing awareness of using personal protective products such as cut-resistant gloves to secure hands in accidental injuries, the usage of the products is gaining popularity.  For better performance of the user, the comfort properties have become an essential need along with the functional properties. In many occupations, such as in the meat cutting process, metal sheet and glass manufacturing units, during the use of sharp-end tools, workers’ hands need protection. In this research, the development and comparison of comfortable & protective cut-resistant gloves were performed by using blends of high-performance fibers, synthetic, and regenerated fibers. Fibers used were para-aramid (Kevlar), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), glass fibers to achieve technical properties, and mod-acrylic, viscose rayon, and polyester were used for thermo-physiological comfort characteristics. Physical properties, cut resistance index, and comfort properties i.e., air permeability, thermal resistance, and relative water vapor permeability %, for all the samples, were investigated. All the results were analyzed and compared w.r.t comfort characteristics. It was observed that by increasing the percentage (%) of regenerated fiber (mod- acrylic, viscose rayon), the relative water vapor permeability was improved, while by increasing the percentage of synthetic fiber(polyester), the thermal resistance and air permeability were improved. These gloves will fulfill the customers’ expected requirements and boost industrial growth.