The Effects of Laundering on FR and

AR Materials

Jill KirbyLaboratory Manager

It is well known that contaminants and cleaning procedures can effect the integrity of FR and AR garments.

What is the effect and how do you mitigate risk?

Introduction

• Adapted ASTM F1959 (test method for arc ratings)

• Measured mass and placed contaminates in sensor area

• Tested wet and dry fabrics for with wet and dry contaminants, included a baseline

2012 Contamination Study

Cite paper.

• Cement• Flocculent Slimes• Slurry

Grease• Sweat• Palladium Dust

• Carbon Black• Dry Lime• Transformer Oil• Hydraulic Oil

Contaminants

10.4

5.5

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

Dry Fabric Wet Fabric

The wet fabric was twice the weight of the dry (very wet and worst case scenario).

Baseline Protection cal/cm²

10.6

12.911.5 11.5

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

Carbon Dust Dry Cement Dry Lime PalladiumDust

Dry ContaminantsDry Fabric 10.6 calWet Fabric 5.5 cal

Dry Contaminants cal/cm²

5.1

75.9

11.3

13

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

FloculentSlime

Grease HydaulicOil

CaOHSlurry

WetCement

Wet ContaminantsDry Fabric 10.6 calWet Fabric 5.5 cal

Wet Contaminants cal/cm²

• Diesel & Transformer oil ignited causing greater burns.• Grease, hydraulic oil did not ignite less than 11 cal/cm² but did lower protection .• All hydrocarbons will ignite, causing greater burn than their thermal conduction reflects here.

Die

sel f

uel

Floc

cule

nt S

limes

Wat

er

Hyd

raul

ic o

il

Gre

ase

Tran

sfor

mer

oil

Bas

e ra

ting

Car

bon

dust

Slur

ry

Palla

dium

dus

t

Dry

lim

e

Dry

cem

ent

Wet

cem

ent

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

1.20

1.40

Rel

ativ

e R

atin

g (to

bas

e ra

ting)

Contaminants

Liquids

Solids and heavy saturatedmixes

Reduction in protective properties

Summary Graph

Contamination : Dirt

Contamination: Diesel Fuel

• No correlation to conductivity and arc rating of contaminants. This is a thermal effect.

• Most dry soils and many wet ones seem to be good for protection from arc flash.

• A small amount of hydrocarbons is unlikely to be life threatening.

• Proper cleaning should be regular but not need not be excessive.

• Further study indicates that not all fabrics are affected negatively by moisture.

Practical Conclusions

• Decontamination should be performed in accordance with manufacturer instructions

• Garments soiled with hazardous chemicals should be handled by qualified individuals with approved techniques

• It may be necessary to use multiple methods to successfully remove some contaminants (home laundry, industrial, and/or dry cleaning) – No public facilities

Removal of Contaminants

• Cleaning FR and AR Garments• Common practice in the FR industry to recommend

against the use of fabric softeners and bleach products

• Guides for Care and Maintenance of Industrial AR and FR Clothing– ASTM F2757– ASTM F1449 – NFPA 2113

Standards

• Standard guide for home laundering arc and flame, thermal, and AR garments

• Follow care instructions– Liquid household detergents

– Not fatty based soaps

– No bleach or bleach containing products (chlorine or oxygen)

– No fabric softener

ASTM F2757- Home Laundering

• Guidance Document– Wash procedures

• Processor develops procedure with manufacturer and chemical suppliers

– Soil Level is determined by “The Textile Laundering Technology Handbook”

– Inspection information• Removal from service, fit, and repairs

ASTM F1449-Industrial Laundering

• Garments shall be kept clean– Reduces build up of contaminants that reduce flame resistance

• New garments shall be cleaned at least once prior to their initial use

• Flame-resistant garments shall be cleaned in accordance with manufacturer instructions, ASTM F1449, or ASTM F2757

NFPA 2113

Commercial & Home Laundry

• Aramids– Sensitive to oxidizers and UV Light

• Modacrylics– Sensitive to thermal shrinkage

• Carbonized Fibers– Fibers can degrade in bleach

• Fabric Softener and fatty detergents are commonly considered capable of ‘Masking’ the FR properties

Inherent FR Fabrics

• Phosphomium salt precondensates– Ammonia cures– Non-ammonia cures

• Alkyl phosphonates– Heat cure

• Each manufacturer uses their own technique

• Estimated “use-life” of cotton-nylon garment: 2 years

• Some durable for life of garment with proper care– Care labels are designed to provide consumers with a guide to promote

the longevity, flame resistance, and protective values of the garments.

Treated FR Fabrics

• Fatty molecules of cationic fabric softeners settle on the surface “hydrocarbon loading”

• Chlorine bleach is detrimental to cellulose, para-aramids, and FR finishes

• Hydrogen peroxide reacts with the metal ions in hard water

Cleaning Concerns

The Bleach Study

The Effects of Laundering on FR and

AR Materials

• Evaluate the overall impact of the laundering methods

• Determine the failure point after laundering, with respect to the intervals used in this study, for each load as compared to the requirements of the ASTM F1506 Specification for a 6-8.4oz/yd2 fabric

• Determine if there is a correlation between colorfastnessand flammability

Objectives

• One FR cotton/nylon material • Other fabrics may have different results

• SOFT water • HARD water may vary the results

• Evaluations to ASTM F1506 • Taken at wash intervals of 50, 100, 150, 200, 250

Controls

Load Composition

Load 1 (Control) “Tide®” Load 2 “Clorox 2®” Load 3 “Clorox®”

Tide® Original Liquid Detergent (approx. 60 g)

Tide® Original Liquid Detergent

(approx. 60 g)

Tide® Original LiquidDetergent

(60 g)

Ultra Downy® Free & Gentle Fabric Softener (approx. 40g)

Ultra Downy® Free & Gentle Fabric Softener (approx. 40 g)

Clorox 2®-Stain Remover and Color Booster

1-5% Hydrogen Peroxide (approx. 60g)

Concentrated Clorox® Regular Bleach

8.25% Sodium Hypochlorite(approx. 140 g)

AATCC 135: 120°F, Permanent Press, Tumble Dry

Results

• Tide Sample– 21% decrease in both fabric weight and arc rating

• Tide with Fabric Softener and Clorox 2– 21% decrease in arc rating, 19% decrease in weight

• Sample laundered with chlorine bleach ignited and was not rated

Results

• At 50 wash cycles, no significant difference in char length was found between samples laundered in any method

• Negative correlation found with char length and colorfastness for samples washed with Clorox® – No correlation found with samples washed with Tide alone or with Tide

and Clorox 2®– Color loss may not always indicate a loss of flame resistance as shown in

this study. It would be difficult to determine in real-life applications unless care procedures were evidenced or the product was tested.

• Decrease in arc rating is likely due to weight change

Conclusions

• The sample laundered with Clorox® was no longer flame-resistant after 100 cycles– Results between 50-100 cycles are unknown

• Sample washed 250x with Tide® met requirements for vertical flame, breaking strength, colorfastness– Did not meet the tear strength requirement

• Sample washed 250x with Clorox 2® and fabric softener met requirements for flame, tear, breaking strength, colorfastness

Conclusions

Questions?

Phone: (502) 333-0510Email: flashcert@arcwear.com

www.arcwear.comArc Testing, Textile Testing, Accident Investigations

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