Firefighters wear protective suits made of special synthetic fibres like Nomex or Kevlar instead of natural…

Firefighters wear protective suits made of special synthetic fibres like Nomex or Kevlar instead of natural cotton or silk fabrics. Why are these synthetic fibres preferred for firefighting?
  1. Synthetic fibres burn quickly to form a heat-blocking layer of ash.
  2. These specific synthetic fibres have very high thermal resistance and do not catch fire or melt easily.
  3. Cotton absorbs water and makes the suit dangerously heavy during firefighting operations.
  4. Natural fibres react chemically with air to produce poisonous smoke at high temperatures.

Solution

Special synthetic fibres like Nomex and Kevlar are fire-retardant and heat-resistant, protecting firefighters from intense heat without melting onto the skin.

Asked in: Homi Bhabha Practice

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