DuPont™ KEVLAR® brand fibre provides strength at high temperatures, which makes it appropriate for use in gloves and mittens used in high heat applications. Another key brand in worker protection is DuPont™ NOMEX®. NOMEX® brand fibre provides the flame-resistant protection required in other thermal worn by firefighters, industrial workers and racing professionals. For more information, visit the home page for NOMEX® at www.nomex.com.
Thermal Resistance
Thermal protective gloves should be of adequate thickness and made of materials with a high decomposition temperature and low thermal conductivity to prevent the transfer of heat through the glove to the worker's hand. Thermal gloves are designed to exceed the temperature extremes faced by the worker.
The chart below shows the decomposition temperature of many common materials.
Leather shrinks at high temperatures rather than decomposes.
The chart below shows the heat transfer through common glove materials. For example, if a worker wearing a leather glove (25 oz/yd2) were to hold an object heated to 415°F (213°C) for 25 seconds, the temperature inside the glove would rise 120°F (67°C). If the same worker was wearing a terry cloth glove made of NOMEX® or KEVLAR® (18 oz/yd2), the temperature inside the glove would rise only 17°F (9°C).
