Looking good in chemical protective clothes market

London – The market for chemical protective clothing is set for robust growth over the next few years, according to a report from Textiles Intelligence, a business information company.

The threats posed by chemicals and other hazardous substances are greater than ever, said TI, highlighting the potential dangers posed by thousands of different chemicals at every stage of their life cycle from initial manufacture to transport and handling.

These hazards are compounded by the ever-present risk that terrorist organisations and other activist groups may gain access to potentially lethal chemicals with
the intent of using them as weapons to cause widespread destruction, the reports adds.

According to TI, these risks have prompted significant innovation among developers of chemical protective clothing. Examples here include fabrics made from cellulosic fibres incorporating metal organic framework molecules (MOFs) that can selectively trap gases or material made from vertically aligned carbon nanotubes (CNTs) which can repel chemical and biological agents.

Other developments cited include a self-cleaning cotton fabric incorporating a compound that kills bacteria and breaks down toxins, and protective garments made from materials which can be landfilled or incinerated without harm to the environment.

Future development work is likely to focus on creating clothing ensembles which are capable of providing protection against multiple hazards, such as chemical exposure and flash fires, while disposable chemical protective garments — made mostly from nonwoven materials — are likely to gain further share in this market.

TI goes on to identify some major challenges for the sector, not least those relating to funding. Worryingly, it said, cutbacks in spending on emergency response services can not be ruled out given the dire state of many government budgets.

Overall, though, the prospects for the industry seem positive, even in well established markets such as the US and Europe. In particular, said TI, the US government has provided additional funding for chemical protective clothing as part of its Homeland Security initiative.

“Sales of chemical protective clothing are more robust than sales of other types of protective apparel,” said TI. “In many applications, employers cannot afford to skimp on chemical protective clothing, given the disproportionately higher costs associated with worker injuries and the penalties imposed on companies which fail to comply with health and safety regulations.”

Meanwhile, the report notes that legislation requiring the provision of protective clothing is now being introduced in many developing countries in Asia, South America and other emerging economies.