Tests were conducted on two fabrics intended for use in protective clothing: an aramid (used extensively in firefighter gear) and a modified viscose cellulosic fabric. Both were exposed to very high heat (temperatures above 400 deg. C) and their performance as thermal insulators was assessed by the temperature transmitted through the fabric, both in their dry state and after being exposed to a water spray. Both fabrics performed satisfactorily, but the modified viscose fabric improved its thermal insulation properties when damp, while the aramid fabric remained unaffected (or perhaps negatively affected) by the water spray. Overall, the modified viscose fabric seemed a better thermal insulator than the aramid.
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