Sustainable and Recycled Content Firefighting Fabrics
topic
Development of structural firefighting fabrics with recycled content and improved end-of-life recyclability addresses the environmental impact of aramid and PBI fibre production and the challenging disposal of contaminated end-of-life firefighting clothing, with recycled aramid fibre processing research demonstrating maintenance of adequate mechanical properties from reclaimed fibre sources and chemical recycling pathways being investigated for recovery of polymer precursors from thermally degraded aramid fabrics that cannot be mechanically recycled.
Role
Addresses the sustainability dimension of structural firefighting clothing whose life-safety requirements have historically prioritised performance over environmental impact, with increasing procurement authority sustainability requirements creating market pull for lower-carbon footprint and recyclable-content firefighting clothing materials that meet the same performance standards as conventional materials without the environmental burden of virgin high-performance fibre production.