Protective textiles are those used for both personal and property protection from various environmental hazards. In most countries it is mandatory to use protective clothing and equipment in certain occupational activities to prevent injury. This protection can be against shock, fire, chemicals, violence or warfare.

 

 

Generally, selection of protective clothing depends on five main criteria – protection, mobility, comfort, durability and economics. In addition, other factors to be considered include decontamination, disposal and re-use. The importance of each criteria depends on hazard, environmental conditions and the cost of buying and maintaining the clothing.

 

The physical hazards to which wearers of protective clothing are often exposed include fire, sharp objects or material abrasions, tear and damage caused during usage. Apart from using high performance coated laminated textiles, non-wovens are widely used to provide the effective barrier to thermal or chemical risk. The most common approach is the use of material combinations; an outer layer made from resistance materials and an inner layer made from chemically resistant fabrics.