A team of researchers from Canada’s University of Alberta has created a novel graphene-based patch that may detect material degradation in personal protective equipment (PPE).
The approach, which is expected to help firemen in particular, would educate first responders on the extent to which their clothes shield them from the weather.
The University of Alberta has developed a new way to monitor the safety of firefighters’ clothing. The technology uses graphene to form conductive tracks on the patch’s surface which is disrupted when exposed to heat, moisture or UV light. Unlike other fabric test methods – which might require cutting away a sample of the material – this can be executed on the intact garment. This means professionals can routinely monitor their outfits and seek replacements where necessary.
