THERMOPHYSICAL ASSESSMENT OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT IN CONDITIONS OF HIGH TEMPERATURE AND THERMAL RADIATION

This article provides a comprehensive analysis of the thermophysical properties of personal protective equipment (PPE) used in industrial and emergency environments. Protecting the human body from thermal damage under high temperatures and radiant heat is one of the key objectives addressed. The study evaluates three types of materials in terms of thermal conductivity, heat capacity, thermal resistance, and infrared reflectivity using both laboratory tests and numerical simulations in COMSOL Multiphysics. Additionally, a survey was conducted among workers operating in hazardous environments to assess the realworld effectiveness of PPE. The data collected enabled a scientifically grounded evaluation of the suitability of PPE materials for specific working conditions. The results serve as a basis for improving PPE design, developing next-generation protective clothing, and enhancing industrial safety standards.
This research is relevant to sectors such as chemical production, metallurgy, oil and gas, and firefighting. Future research should include a comprehensive assessment of ergonomic features, physiological impacts on users, and the integration potential of smart sensors. Such scientifically informed approaches will not only improve workplace safety but also contribute to the overall quality of life and health protection of workers facing thermal risks.

1. Hoffmann F. Thermal Conductivity Measurement Techniques / F. Hoffmann // Springer. – 2017. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-40652-5. (In English).

2. Chen L. Protective Clothing Performance Evaluation / L. Chen, X. Wang, Z. Li // Journal of Safety Science. – 2020. – T. 130. – R. 104-112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2020.104888. (In English).

3. ASTM International. ASTM F1939-15: Radiant Heat Resistance of Clothing. – 2015. – https://www.astm.org/f1939-15.html. (In English).

4. Multilayer Protective Fabrics Thermal Behavior / M. Gholamreza et al // Fibers and Polymers. – 2021. – T. 22, № 4. – R. 888-897. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12221-021-0021-7. (In English).

5. ISO. ISO 13506: Protective Clothing against Heat and Flame – Thermal Manikin Test Method. – 2022. https://www.iso.org/standard/79962.html. (In English).

6. Қabdol A.M. Zhoғary temperatura zhaғdaiynda zhұmys іsteitіn arnaiy kiіmderdің materialdaryn termografiyalyқ baғalau / A.M. Қabdol, T.T. Baimenov // Қazaқstan Inzhenerlіk Zhurnaly. – 2022. – № 2(58). – B. 27-34. https://kzengineering.kz/2022/02/16/jqq-thermal-paper. (In Kazakh).

7. Functional coatings for textiles: advancements in flame resistance, antimicrobial defense, and self-cleaning performance / J. Ghosh et al // Published by the Royal Society of Chemistry. – 2025. – № 15. – R. 10984-11022. https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlehtml/2025/ra/d5ra01429h. (In English).

8. Selective Emission Fabric for Indoor and Outdoor Passive Radiative Cooling in Personal Thermal Management / Haijiao Yu et al // Nano-Micro Lett. – 2025. – № 17. – R. 192. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s40820-025-01713-4. (In English).

9. Nanotechnology-empowered radiative cooling and warming textiles / K.M. Faridul Hasan et al // Cell Reports Physical. – 2024. – Science 5. – R. 102108. https://www.cell.com/cell-reports-physicalscience/fulltext/S2666-3864%2824%2900386-2. (In English).

10. Temperature-adaptive dual-modal photonic textiles for thermal management / Kaixuan Zhu et al // Science Advances. – 2024. – Vol. 10, Issue 41. https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.adr2062. (In English).

11. High-performance transparent polysulfone nanocomposites enhanced with masterbatch-based aramid nanofibers for improved toughness and flame retardancy / Seul-A Park et al // Advanced Composites and Hybrid Materials. – 2025. – № 307, Vol. 8. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s42114-025-01392-0. (In English).