STUDIES ON LARGE AREA SUB-FABRIC BURNS: THE EFFECT OF AN AIR SPACE BETWEEN A TWO LAYER SYSTEM

It is well known that protection against radiant energy burns afforded by fabrics may be increased by creating an air space between the fabric and the underlying skin. Earlier work in this laboratory has also shown that if one layer of fabric is in contact with skin, protection of a two layer fabric system increases progressively as the space between the fabrics changes from two to five millimeters. With the magnesium source, large area sub-fabric burns were produced to determine the cffects of still greater air spaces between the two layers. With underwear material in contact with the skin of white pigs, green poplin material was placed either in contact with or at distances of from one to four centimeters from the underwear. Magnesium flash powder, in 150 gm charges, was exploded at a distance of 20 cm from the animals. It was found that combinations of fabric and spacing which resulted in the underwear's remaining intact resulted in the greatest protection. In general, fireretardant treated material was superior to untreated material, and increasing the air space between the two layers decreased severity of the resulting burns. (auth)