Chemical Protective Clothing: Providing A Life-Critical Barrier
The threats posed by chemicals and other hazardous substances are greater than ever. The need for personal protection has been clearly demonstrated over the past two decades by the large number of incidents involving the spread of contaminants, chemical industrial disasters and terrorist attacks. In response to such need, great strides have been made in the provision of personal protection and in preparing for future incidents. The demand for chemical protective clothing looks set to remain robust. Factors which will fuel growth include the adoption of occupational safety regulations in the developing world, improvements in protective fabrics and the emergence of new threats. Growth will also be fuelled by outbreaks of diseases, persistent terrorist activity and an increase in the amount of chemicals being manufactured, transported and handled. This report provides a wealth of information on chemical protective clothing, including the different types of clothing and ensembles, materials used to produce them, their applications and key performance features. It also provides an overview of demand for chemical protective clothing, chemicals and their hazards, and standards for chemical protective clothing. Furthermore, the report presents examples of product innovations in the chemical protective clothing market and provides an outlook for the future.
SUMMARY
INTRODUCTION
APPLICATIONS OF CHEMICAL PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
DEMAND FOR CHEMICAL PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
Health and safety regulations
Health-threatening incidents
CHEMICALS AND THEIR HAZARDS
Toxic industrial chemicals
Chemical warfare agents
KEY PERFORMANCE FEATURES OF CHEMICAL PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
Chemical penetration
Chemical permeation
Chemical degradation
Abrasion
MATERIALS USED TO PRODUCE CHEMICAL PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
Nonwoven fabrics
Spunbonded/meltblown/spunbonded (SMS) polypropylene nonwoven fabrics
Nonwoven fabrics coated with or laminated to microporous films
Flash spun polyethylene nonwoven fabrics
Woven fabrics
Impermeable materials
TYPES, CATEGORIES AND CLASSIFICATIONS OF CHEMICAL PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
Types of chemical protective clothing
Single-use or disposable garments
Limited-use garments
Reusable garments
Classification of chemical protective clothing
CHEMICAL PROTECTIVE CLOTHING ENSEMBLES
Design of chemical protective clothing
STANDARDS FOR CHEMICAL PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
PRODUCT INNOVATIONS IN THE CHEMICAL PROTECTIVE CLOTHING MARKET
Boston Dynamics: Petman
Cornell University: fabric which can selectively trap gases
DuPont: SafeSPEC 2.0
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory: military apparel which can repel chemical and biological agents
W L Gore & Associates: Gore Chempak Selectively Permeable Fabric
PolyConversions: VR Protective Wear
University of California: self-cleaning cotton fabric
OUTLOOK
INTRODUCTION
APPLICATIONS OF CHEMICAL PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
DEMAND FOR CHEMICAL PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
Health and safety regulations
Health-threatening incidents
CHEMICALS AND THEIR HAZARDS
Toxic industrial chemicals
Chemical warfare agents
KEY PERFORMANCE FEATURES OF CHEMICAL PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
Chemical penetration
Chemical permeation
Chemical degradation
Abrasion
MATERIALS USED TO PRODUCE CHEMICAL PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
Nonwoven fabrics
Spunbonded/meltblown/spunbonded (SMS) polypropylene nonwoven fabrics
Nonwoven fabrics coated with or laminated to microporous films
Flash spun polyethylene nonwoven fabrics
Woven fabrics
Impermeable materials
TYPES, CATEGORIES AND CLASSIFICATIONS OF CHEMICAL PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
Types of chemical protective clothing
Single-use or disposable garments
Limited-use garments
Reusable garments
Classification of chemical protective clothing
CHEMICAL PROTECTIVE CLOTHING ENSEMBLES
Design of chemical protective clothing
STANDARDS FOR CHEMICAL PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
PRODUCT INNOVATIONS IN THE CHEMICAL PROTECTIVE CLOTHING MARKET
Boston Dynamics: Petman
Cornell University: fabric which can selectively trap gases
DuPont: SafeSPEC 2.0
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory: military apparel which can repel chemical and biological agents
W L Gore & Associates: Gore Chempak Selectively Permeable Fabric
PolyConversions: VR Protective Wear
University of California: self-cleaning cotton fabric
OUTLOOK
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: Most common toxic industrial chemicals listed by level of hazard
Table 2: Barrier materials used in chemical protective clothing
Table 3: Chemical barrier properties of nonwoven fabrics
Table 4: Manufacturers of materials used in chemical protective clothing
Table 5: Classification of chemical protective garments
Table 6: Types of protective clothing for full body protection
Table 7: Seam constructions commonly used in chemical protective clothing
Table 8: Testing standards for chemical protective suits
List of figures
Figure 1: Western Europe: chemical protective clothing market, 2012-16
Figure 2: Western Europe: market for chemical protective clothing by end use industry, 2009
Figure 3: Single-use chemical protective garment
Figure 4: Limited-use chemical protective garment
Figure 5: Reusable chemical protective garment
Figure 6: Western Europe: market for disposable chemical protective clothing by company, 2009
Figure 7: Western Europe: market for reusable chemical protective clothing by company, 2009
Table 1: Most common toxic industrial chemicals listed by level of hazard
Table 2: Barrier materials used in chemical protective clothing
Table 3: Chemical barrier properties of nonwoven fabrics
Table 4: Manufacturers of materials used in chemical protective clothing
Table 5: Classification of chemical protective garments
Table 6: Types of protective clothing for full body protection
Table 7: Seam constructions commonly used in chemical protective clothing
Table 8: Testing standards for chemical protective suits
List of figures
Figure 1: Western Europe: chemical protective clothing market, 2012-16
Figure 2: Western Europe: market for chemical protective clothing by end use industry, 2009
Figure 3: Single-use chemical protective garment
Figure 4: Limited-use chemical protective garment
Figure 5: Reusable chemical protective garment
Figure 6: Western Europe: market for disposable chemical protective clothing by company, 2009
Figure 7: Western Europe: market for reusable chemical protective clothing by company, 2009
