Effect of Fabric Properties on Thermal Signature and Burn Injury

摘要

Thermal signature reduction and flame/thermal protection are two important protections for the survivability of the U.S. soldiers operating in the battlefield. Among many parameters that influence the degree of thermal signature reduction and flame/thermal protection, thermal radiation is the most important one. The dominant heat transfer mode between a fire and clothing surface is radiation, as much as 80%. Thermal image is a contrast of different thermal radiance between the target and the background. The optical properties of a material are major factors influencing thermal radiance from the material surface. Therefore, controlling the optical properties of military clothing fabrics is a viable means to improve thermal protection and thermal camouflage of future force warriors.