Spectroscopic, thermal, and mechanical characterization of the polymeric fabrics used in extreme low-temperature protective garments

This paper presents the study of the chemical and physico-mechanical properties of the natural and synthetic fabrics used in extreme low-temperature (−20 °C) gloves. The essential properties, such as the weight of the gloves, cold insulation, and surface water repellency, were studied. In-depth analysis by 13C solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (13C SSNMR), attenuated total reflectance fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) techniques were undertaken to understand the chemical and thermal characteristics of the fabrics. The physico-mechanical properties, such as thickness, weight, softness, tear strength, abrasion resistance, blade cut resistance, and puncture resistance, of each fabric used in the gloves, were also studied. Finally, the physico-mechanical properties were correlated with the chemical nature of the fabrics and the garment's performance properties.