Thermal Insulation

Materials

R.Senthil Kumar,
sen29iit@yahoo.co.in
Thermal insulation in Protective clothing
 Military forces of many nations need to survive and fight in the
most extreme conditions known on earth.

 The cold/wet regions tend to cause the most severe problems, as

it is necessary to provide and maintain dry thermal insulation
materials.

 The cold/dry areas, including the arctic, Antarctic, and

mountainous regions require the carriage and use of clothing,
sleeping bags, and other personal equipment which possess high
levels of thermal insulation.
Thermal Insulation Materials
 Any fibrous material will offer some resistance to the transmission of
heat, because of the air enclosed between and on the surface of the
fibres.

 The efficiency of the fibrous insulator determined by the ratio of fibre to

air, and the way in which the fibres are arranged in the system.

 An efficient insulator will be composed of about 10–20% of fibre and

80–90% of air, the fibre merely acting as a large surface area medium to
trap still air.
 Large numbers of fine fibres trap more still air, owing to the high
specific surface area. However, fine fibres give a dense felt-like
batting.

 There is a compromise between fineness and flexural rigidity

which gives the fibre the ability to maintain a degree of ‘loft’,
resilience and recovery from compression which is essential for
clothing and sleeping bags.

 Finer fibre battings are more suitable for insulated footwear and
hand wear, where low thickness is an important factor
Insulation Efficiency
 The insulation efficiency of military clothing and equipment is critical as
we endeavour to achieve the highest insulation value at the lowest weight
and thickness.

 The Tog is the SI unit of thermal insulation, measured on a ‘Togmeter’.

 The definition of the Tog unit is:1 Tog = m2K/10 Watts.

Warmth/mass efficiency of textile materials
 Woven and knitted fabrics offer poor insulation for their mass.

 The pile fabrics are intermediate in efficiency, but the quilted

battings are the most efficient.

 Hollow fibres and down fillings are 13 to 17 times more efficient

than a polyester/cotton woven fabric if insulation needs to be
carried by the individual.

 Any fibrous, porous insulation material is adversely affected by

the presence of moisture, whether this is perspiration or rain.
Replacing air of low thermal conductivity by water of high
conductivity is the primary cause.

 Moreover, fibrous materials, particularly pile fabrics or quilted

battings, have a high affinity for wicking and entrapping large
amounts of moisture.
Loss of Thermal Insulation in wet battings