Manufacturing scale-up of graphene-based end-of-life sensor for fire-protective fabrics

Firefighters risk their lives every day to protect ours. Their protective clothing is critical to allow performing their duties while remaining safe. The performance of the fibres used to make their protective clothing is excellent when new; however, this performance degrades over time while the protective clothing is exposed to heat, UV light, moisture, etc. In addition, this degradation is generally not visible until the loss in performance is extreme, which raises serious safety concerns for the firefighters.

To solve this problem, a graphene-based end-of-life sensor for fire-protective fabrics is being developed in collaboration of five industry partners and a firefighter training school. The sensor includes a sacrificial polymer with a graphene track. The polymer is sensitive to the same aging conditions as the fabrics. The degradation of the polymer disrupts the conductivity of the graphene track. The firefighter will monitor the condition of their garment by measuring the residual electrical resistance of the sensor secured on their garment using a simple multimeter during their regular protective gear assessment. This sensor is a major breakthrough in terms of safety for workers exposed to heat and flame and will lead to new product development opportunities for Canadian textile manufacturers.

Faculty Supervisor:

Patricia Dolez

Student:

Partner:

École Supérieure des Industries du Textile et de l'Habillement

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Advanced Manufacturing; Nanotechnology

University:

University of Alberta

Program: