New Stab and flame-resistant Fabric
A unique new stab and flame-resistant material has been made using wool and a special synthetic fibre. It looks and feels like regular wool jacket fabric and is lightweight and comfortable to wear. The fabric is made from a core structure of knitted Vectran® yarns with short wool fibres packed into the knitted structure. Developed at AgResearch in Christchurch NZ, this fabric opens up new opportunities for protective clothing where traditional stab and flame-proof fabrics would be unsuitable.
The wool and Vectran® fibres work together to give a better level of protection than you would get from either fibre alone. Vectran® is a very high-strength fibre, spun from special type of polyester. It has excellent cut and impact resistance, which means it can withstand the force of a sharp object. It also remains stable at high and low temperatures, so it won't burn. Other uses for Vectran® fiber include cut-resistant gloves for the meat industry, aircraft cables and astronaut safety tethers.
Wool is also flame retardant. When exposed to a flame, it chars, forming a layer of carbon. The charred layer is held together by the Vectran® structure creating a protective barrier that reduces heat transfer through the fabric, so the fabric doesn't burn and also doesn't get too hot and burn the skin on the other side.
There are other stab and flame-resistant fabrics made from synthetic yarns, such as Kevlar® and Nomex®, that provide a similar level of protection. The idea of incorporating wool into the fabric is what makes it different. It looks like a normal wool jacket fabric and is comfortable to wear all the time.
The properties of wool make the fabric more comforable because it's breathable and absorbant. It's also soft and springy to touch. The other factor that makes the fabric different and adds to its comfort is that the Vectran® framework of the fabric is knitted. This is more flexible than a woven structure, so it doesn't restrict movement.
The new fabric doesn't provide the same level of protection as conventional protective fabric and is not designed to replace it. The higher level of comfort and usability it offers provides opportunity for protection in situations where a person may otherwise wear no protection.
It's comfortable enough to wear all the time so its ideal for situations where ther's a more moderate level of resk such as ambulance officers, bouncers and security guards. It could also be used where there's risk of an accidental cut or injury in occupations such as forestry or metalworking and in recreational activities such as mountain biking or hunting.