Original article

Textile Research Journal

83(17) 1860–1872

Thermal properties of aluminized and ! The Author(s) 2013

Reprints and permissions:
sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav
non-aluminized basalt fabrics DOI: 10.1177/0040517512447517
trj.sagepub.com

R Hrynyk1, I Frydrych1,2, E Irzmańska1 and A Stefko1

Abstract
The aim of this study was to characterize modified basalt fabrics as semi-finished articles for application in personal
protective equipment (PPE), i.e. protective gloves. Resistance to the thermal properties for three fabrics made of basalt
fibers differed in the aspect of mass per square meter and thickness as well as for the aluminized modifications presented.
The modifications were obtained by gluing aluminum foil to the fabric with two kinds of glue. The results of the
measurements are presented in the form of tables and figures. The study focused on the elaboration of the optimal
textile modification designed for use in protective gloves against thermal and mechanical risks. According to the spe-
cifications of related European standards, only one way of proposed modification meets the requirements and can be
successfully used for manufacturing the final product.

Keywords
basalt, fiber, aluminization, thermal factor, protective gloves

Perspectives of the application of basalt fibers related to
their physicochemical properties arouse the interest of
industry as well as research centers. Basalt fibers are
called man-made mineral fibers (MMMF) and are pro-
duced by melting basalt aggregate derived from previ-
ously studied basalt deposits, in terms of chemical
composition, at temperatures above 1400 C. The chem-
ical content of basalt rock applied for manufacturing of
the fiber include approximately: SiO2 (52.8 %), Al2O3
(17.5 %), Fe2O3 (10.3 %), CaO (8.59 %), MgO (4.63
%), Na2O (3.34 %), K2O (1.46 %), TiO2 (1.38 %),
P2O5 (0.28 %), MnO (0.16 %) and Cr2O3 (0.06 %).
Basalt fibers show low moisture absorption, low
thermal conductivity and low elongation at break
with a limiting oxygen index (LOI) > 70 but high tensile
strength and modulus, very good chemical resistance
and more extended operating temperature range than
regular E glass fibers, approaching that of carbon fiber
and high-strength glass, but beating them price wise.1–7
Because of their specific properties, they can be used as
a substitute for special glass fiber threads for heat-
resistant elastic structures for technical purposes. A
comparison of properties of basalt fiber with other
fibers used in high temperatures is given in Table 1.8
Incombustible properties allow basalt fabrics to
resist fire for a significantly long time period in
comparison with other fabrics. Moreover, basalt fabrics
are characterized by their resistance to extremely high
temperature. After exposure to high temperatures, they
reveal flexibility and retain resistance to mechanical and
chemical factors. They are also clean and nontoxic,
which is their next useful advantage. Basalt fibers do
not pollute the water and air; therefore, their storage
and processing is safe. Taking into account the influ-
ence of basalt fibers on the human body, no negative
effect has been recognized thus far. It should be pointed
out that basalt does not cause a cancer risk in contrast
to the asbestos responsible for malignant mesotheli-
oma.9 Basalt fabrics are classified as safe for human
health in agreement with US and EU standards.
Today, basalt fiber research, production and market-
ing efforts are based in European and North American
countries. There are several companies using basalt as a
1
Central Institute for Labour Protection – National Research Institute,
Poland
2
Technical University of Lodz, Poland
Corresponding author:
Rafał Hrynyk, Central Institute for Labour Protection – National
Research Institute, Wierzbowa 48, Łódź 90-133, Poland.
Email: rahry@ciop.lodz.pl
Hrynyk et al. 1861

Table 1. Comparison of physical and thermal properties of different fibers

Type of fiber

Parameter Basalt Glass type E Glass type S Aramid Carbon

Color Dark green White- White- Yellow, Black

transparent blue black or red
(transparent)
Fiber diameter mm 7–22 5–20 5–20 10–15 6–9
Density g/cm3 2.65 2.60 2.49 1.44 1.80
Tensile strength (MPa) 4150–4800 3450 4830 3620 5100
Tensile modulus (GPa) 100–110 76 97 41.4 241
Tensile strain [%] 3.30 4.76 5.15 3.60–4.00 2.11
Work temperature ( C) from 260 from 60 from 60 from 196 from 240
to +700 to +380 to +450 to +177 to +750
Short time work temperature ( C) +750 +550 +600 +250 +1650
Temperature of melting ( C) +1050 to +1460 +730 to +1000 +850 to +1000 +427 to +482 +3500
Thermo-insulation (W/m2K) 0.031–0.038 0.034–0.040 0.034–0.040 0.040 0.20

main component for manufacturing numerous prod-

ucts. The Eastern Europe Composite group, including
small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) and com-
panies from Great Britain, Poland, Russia and
Ukraine, produces the basalt rovings combined with
epoxy resin matrices designed for technical purposes,
i.e. for transportation (boats, yachts), for protection
(helmets) and for construction of bridges and build-
ings.10,11 Other important companies involved in the
production of basalt fibers are Kamenny Vek (Dubna,
Russia), Technobasalt (Kiev, Ukraine), Basaltex, a div-
ision of Masureel Holding (Wevelgem, Belgium) and
Sudaglass Fiber Technology Inc. (Houston, Texas).
Currently basalt fibers are commonly used in heavy
industry as structural elements. This type of fiber has
found wide application in construction, aviation, trans-
portation and many other fields. Its properties make
basalt fabrics appropriate for use as protective elements
for individual parts of the human body, mostly arms
and hands, e.g. gloves.
In this manuscript the results of laboratory tests for
selected basalt fabrics are presented and discussed
regarding their application in the construction of
gloves that protect against thermal risks, in particular
heat and fire. The thermal properties of basalt fabrics as
well as aluminized variants were examined in accord-
ance with the test methods used for assessing protective
gloves classified as PPE. On the basis of the test results,
the best variant of basalt fabric was indicated, taking
into account not only the protective properties of the
fabric and the final product but also other useful prop-
erties important for the glove end user. The appropriate
mechanical properties of basalt fabrics have already
been confirmed and published in previous studies.12,13
Materials and methods
The basalt fabrics manufactured in the Czech Republic
by Basaltex a.s. Company and their aluminized variants
elaborated by a Polish manufacturer of protective heat-
resistant textiles and clothing (Termoizol) were selected
and tested for this study. All basalt fabrics used in the
study were manufactured using the shuttleless rapier
loom. To facilitate a description of results basalt fabrics
and their aluminized modifications, they were desig-
nated in the way presented in Tables 2 and 3.
Non-aluminized basalt fabrics
Particular basalt fabric variants were differentiated by
mass per square meter; their nominal values were as
follows: 170, 420 and 730 g/m2. Fabrics of higher
mass per square meter were characterized by the twill
weave, which ensures better fabric drape and flexibility,
whereas the fabric of the lowest mass per square meter
has a plain weave. The wave of fabrics characterized by
low mass per square meter has no significant influence
on flexibility after the aluminization process. The real
values of mass per square meter for non-aluminized
basalt fabrics were slightly different from those declared
by the manufacturer (Table 3).
Aluminization technique
Two aluminization techniques were examined: glue 1,
Butacoll A+,14 and glue 2, Bonatex PU85.15 The
Butacoll A+ is a water-insoluble multicomponent
glue based on epoxy resin containing acetone, toluene
1862 Textile Research Journal 83(17)

Table 2. Technical parameters of basalt fabrics

Linear density (tex) Construction (per 10 cm)

Symbol of Drape by Cusick’s
fabric warp weft warp weft method (%) Weave

I 80  3 40  2 51  1 86  1 76.2  3.2 plain

II 130  5 120  4 105  1 140  1 82.5  2.6 twill (2/1)
III 300  11 300  9 59  1 92  1 88.2  3.3 twill (2/1)

Table 3. Symbols of basalt fabrics, their aluminized variants and the mean values of measured basic fabric parameters

Symbol of Fabric description with nominal Mass per square Thickness

fabric values of mass per square meter meter (g/m2) (mm)

I Basalt fabric, 170 g/m2 172.1  1.5 0.24  0.01

II Basalt fabric, 420 g/m2 417.0  3.7 0.46  0.01
III Basalt fabric, 730 g/m2 730.0  10.1 0.90  0.08
1 Basalt fabric, 170 g/m2 aluminized with Butacoll A+ glue 228.5  6.4 0.37  0.06
2 Basalt fabric, 420 g/m2 aluminized with Butacoll A+ glue 484.0  3.1 0.52  0,01
3 Basalt fabric, 730 g/m2 aluminized with Butacoll A+ glue 801.4  4.6 0.80  0,04
4 Basalt fabric, 170 g/m2 aluminized with Bonatex PU85 glue 228.2  8.3 0.29  0.02
5 Basalt fabric, 420 g/m2 aluminized with Bonatex PU85 glue 470.0  0.7 0.61  0,02
6 Basalt fabric, 730 g/m2 aluminized with Bonatex PU85 glue 840.7  4.4 1.07  0,13

and 4-ter-butylphenol (dry matter content is 25%).
Bonatex PU85 is a dispersion adhesive based on acrylic
acid-ester polymers modified with dispersions of resins
and other modifying agents that do not include any
solvents. It is intended for self-adhesive manufacturing
(dry matter content is 42%). The use of two glues
applied for finishing of the basalt fabrics was related
to an optimization of the aluminization techniques. The
best combination of the fabrics covered by double-sided
aluminized foil including durability, homogeneity as
well as repeatability of the structures was achieved
by adjusting the thickness of the glue layer, speed of
rolling and temperature of drying. The main param-
eters of both aluminization techniques are presented
in Figure 1.
Aluminized basalt fabrics
During the aluminization process the increase of mass
per square meter value was observed (on average about
69 g/m2). The highest mass increase was observed for
the basalt fabric designated by the symbol 6, i.e. from
the value 730.0 g/m2 before the aluminization to
840.7 g/m2 after combining with the aluminum foil.
The lowest increase of mass per square meter on the
level 56.1 g/m2 was for the fabric of symbol 4. With the
exception of fabric 5, the increase of mass per square
meter was proportional to its initial value.
Analyzing the thickness change after aluminization
with the Bonatex PU85 glue, there were observed
increases of about 0.05, 0.15 and 0.17 mm, successively,
for fabrics of nominal mass per square meter: 170, 420
and 730 g/m2. For the variants using the Butacoll A+
glue, the following thickness changes were noted: an
increase of 0.13 mm for fabric 4 from the initial nom-
inal mass per square meter 170 g/m2, an increase of
0.06 mm for fabric 5 from the initial nominal mass
per square meter 420 g/m2 and a decrease of 0.10 mm
from the initial nominal mass per square meter 730 mg/
m2 after the aluminization process.
The thickness of all aluminized fabrics produced and
assessed within the study included values from 0.37 mm
to 0.80 mm for the Butacoll A+ glue and from 0.29 mm
up to 1.07 mm for Bonatex PU85. The thickness of the
material is a crucial parameter characterizing the flexi-
bility of the gloves and dexterity related to their use.
Values of thickness for aluminized basalt textiles cor-
respond to other aluminized textiles applied to the pro-
tective gloves. For example, the thickness of aluminized
Nomex fabric characterized by the weight 302 g/m2 is
about 0.4 mm, whereas the thickness of aluminized
Kevlar fabric at 346 g/m2 is about 0.5 mm.16
Hrynyk et al.
Figure 1. Parameters of aluminization techniques for selected glues.
Measurement methods
In the range of assessment of fabric resistance to ther-
mal risks (heat and flame), the following tests were
done: flammability, resistance to contact, convective
and radiant heat, resistance to small splashes of
molten metal, as well as heat resistance in terms of
assessment of size changes after exposure to hot air
at 180 C.
The basic standard that determines the requirements
and test methods for gloves protecting against thermal
risks including flammability, contact heat, convective
heat, radiant heat, small splashes and large quantities
of molten metal, is European standard (EN)
407:2004.17 The technical parameters of protective
gloves classified as PPE are tested and assessed,
taking into account their application and scope of
activity for end users. That means that all testing meth-
ods relevant to the risks existing in workplaces where
the gloves are used for hand protection shall be carried
out for a complete assessment of the product. For the
purpose of this study, it was stated that the gloves made
of basalt fabrics will protect the users’ hands against
flame, contact, convective and radiant heat as well as
small splashes of molten metal. Additionally, the pro-
duced fabric variants underwent testing on heat resist-
ance according to International Organization for
Standardization (ISO) 17493:2000,18 which was not
required by EN 407:2004. It is the requirement for
1863
gloves intended for firefighters according to EN
659:2003+A1:2008+AC:2009.19 It was decided that
this test would be conducted to better characterize the
examined fabric variants and to widen the field of glove
application.
Flammability properties of all fabrics were measured
by the edge-burning method according to EN ISO
15025:200220 related to protective clothing. The sam-
ples were exposed to a small flame coming from a gas
blowpipe for 10 seconds, then the time of further burn-
ing and further glowing was determined as a highest
value registered for samples cut in warp and weft dir-
ections. The performance level was assessed according
to EN 407:2004 (Table 4).
The contact heat resistance of basalt fabrics was
assessed according to EN 702:1994.21 The time regis-
tered from the first contact with the heating cylinder to
the moment when the temperature increased about
10 C was determined. The test result for each fabric
was carried out as the mean value of three measure-
ments. Both 100 C and 250 C temperatures were
chosen according to predicted usage of protective
gloves. With regard to EN 407:2004, four performance
levels are defined for contact heat resistance (Table 5).
The resistance of the convection heat was measured
according to EN 367:1992.22 The samples were placed
horizontally above the gas blowpipe and underwent
heat flux (of density 80 kW/m2) arising from the
flame. The transmitted heat was measured using a
1864 Textile Research Journal 83(17)

Table 4. Flame resistance performance levels according to EN Table 6. Performance levels related to convection
407:2004 heat resistance according to EN 407:2004

Time of Time of Heat transmission

Performance further further Performance level index (HTI)24 (s)
level burning (s) glowing (s)
1 4
1 20 Requirements are 2 7
not defined 3 10
2 10 120 4 18
3 3 25
4 2 5
s: seconds.

Table 7. Performance levels related to the

radiation heat resistance according to EN
Table 5. Contact heat resistance performance levels according 407:2004
to EN 407:2004
Radiation heat
Contact Performance transmission index
Performance temperature Threshold level (RHTI24) (s)
level TC ( C) time tt (s)
1 7
1 100 15 2 20
2 250 15 3 50
3 350 15 4 95
4 500 15 s: seconds.
s: seconds.

copper (Cu) calorimeter in direct contact with the
sample. The registered heat transmission index
(HTI24) is the time of colorimeter temperature increase
of 24 C. The result for each fabric was calculated as a
mean value of three specimens. The level of perform-
ance for the property is given in Table 6 according to
EN 407:2004.
The radiation heat resistance was determined
according to EN ISO 6942:2002.23 Within the tests,
the time of temperature increase of about 24 C was
registered after exposing the fabric sample to the heat
radiation of the flux density equal to 20 kW/m2. It is
expressed as a radiation heat transmission index
(RHTI24). The performance levels for the radiation
heat resistance are defined in EN 407:2004 and pre-
sented in Table 7.
The resistance to small molten metal splashes was
determined according to EN 348:1992,24 taking into
account requirements defined in EN 407:2004
(Table 8). The test relies on the reaction of molten
metal droplets on the vertically placed fabric samples.
As a result of measurement, the number of droplets
acting on the sample was registered. The mean values
from the samples cut in the warp and weft directions
were calculated and then the lower value was taken into
account as a final result.
Table 8. Performance levels related
to resistance to small molten metal
splashes according to EN 407:2004
Performance Number of
level droplets
1 10
2 15
3 25
4 35
Additionally, heat resistance was determined accord-
ing to EN 659:2003+A1:2008 and ISO 17493:2000.
The test relies on examining the fabric samples and
ready gloves at an air temperature of 180 C for 5 min-
utes, and next checking the sample size and appearance
changes after such an exposure. The requirement of
heat resistance is written in the standard for the fire-
fighters’ gloves, EN 659:2003+A1:2008. According to
this standard, after the exposure in the above-described
conditions the fabric should not be melted, dropped or
burned, and the shrinkage of gloves should not be
higher than 5%. The measurements were carried out
Hrynyk et al. 1865

Table 9. Results of thermal properties of basalt fabrics

Flammability:
time of
further burning
(s)/time of Contact heat Contact heat Convective Radiant
Fabric further resistance at resistance heat resistance heat resistance
symbol glowing (s) 100 C (s) at 250 C (s) HTI24 (s) RHTI24 (s)

I 0/0 (4) 13 (0) 6 (0) 4 (1) 12 (1)

II 0/0 (4) 17 (1) 7 (0) 6 (1) 14 (1)
III 0/0 (4) 21 (1) 8 (0) 7 (2) 21 (2)
1 0/0 (4) 19 (1) 7 (0) 5 (1) 388 (4)
2 0/0 (4) 19 (1) 9 (0) 6 (1) 560 (4)
3 0/0 (4) 21 (1) 9 (0) 8 (2) 229 (4)
4 >30/—(0) 14 (0) 5 (0) 4 (1) 245 (4)
5 >30/—(0) 16 (1) 6 (0) 6 (1) 203 (4)
6 1/0 (4) 18 (1) 7 (0) 7 (2) 305 (4)
Values in parentheses describe the performance levels related to the protective properties of the fabrics; s: seconds.

for six specimens cut in the warp and weft direction,
respectively.
Two mechanical properties of basalt fabric variants
were assessed, i.e. abrasion resistance according to EN
388:200325 and fatigue bending resistance according to
EN ISO 7854:1997.26 Because the methodologies of
those measurements are commonly known, a detailed
description of the procedures is not included here.
Results and discussion
Thermal properties of non-aluminized and
aluminized basalt fabrics
The results of thermal measurements of basalt fabric
variants are presented in Table 9. The measurement
procedures are described in the appropriate standards
mentioned above.
Flammability assessment
The analysis of the flammability of particular basalt
fabric variants confirms that only two fabrics did not
fulfill the requirements in the range of this parameter,
i.e. variant 4 – basalt fabric of nominal mass per square
meter 170 g/m2, aluminized with the use of Bonatex
PU85 glue, and variant 5 – basalt fabric of mass per
square meter 420 g/m2, aluminized in the same way. In
the rest of the aluminized and non-aluminized variants,
the after-flame and after-glove time corresponded to
the highest value, meaning the fourth performance
level according to EN 407:2004.
Assessment of the resistance to contact
and convective heat
Contact heat resistance was examined first for all
the fabrics by measurement with a contact tempera-
ture equal to 250 C. Results showed that none of the
fabricsachieved the required threshold time equal to
15 seconds. For this reason, further measurements
were carried out at a contact temperature equal to
100 C. In this case only one variant of aluminized
fabric designated by the symbol 4 did not fulfill the
requirement.
The non-aluminized thin fabric I also did not ful-
fill the requirement. In both cases the expected
time was shorter by about 1 second for fabric 4
and 2 seconds for fabric I. It should be emphasized
that the application of Butacoll A+ glue for covering
the fabric with the aluminum foil is responsible for
achieving the first performance level regarding contact
heat resistance. The first performance level in that case
is not so high, but is enough to fulfill the basic require-
ment of the standard. Threshold times for fabrics,
which were combined with the aluminum foil using
the Bonatex PU85, is lower than for non-aluminized
fabrics and indicate a negative influence of the glue
on the protective properties in contact with the hot
item.
Analysis of results concerning the convective heat
resistance confirmed fulfilling the EN 407:2004 stand-
ard requirements in each case. For fabrics of symbols
III, 3 and 6, i.e. variants of the highest mass per square
meter equal to or higher than 730 g/m2, the second per-
formance level was obtained. For other variants the
1866
Figure 2. Results of the resistance to the contact and convective heat for particular basalt fabric variants.
first performance level of the convective heat was
confirmed.
On the basis of the results of measurement of resist-
ance to convective heat, it can be concluded that the
mass per square meter and covering the fabric with the
aluminum foil layer influence this property. The higher
the fabric mass per square meter, the higher the value of
HTI24 – the parameter characterizing the convective
heat. The graphical form of the results concerning the
resistance to the contact and convective heat is pre-
sented in Figure 2.
Assessment of the resistance to radiant heat
Concerning the resistance to radiation heat, all the
examined basalt fabric variants fulfilled the require-
ments of the EN 407:2004 standard. Non-aluminized
basalt fabrics achieved no more than the second per-
formance level, whereas aluminized variants achieved
the highest – the fourth performance level. Such a
result was expected because the aluminization of the
fabrics is recognized as one of the most effective modi-
fications enhancing their ability to reflect heat.
The highest value of the heat transmission coefficient
RHTI24 equal to 560 seconds was registered for the
variant designated by the symbol 2, i.e. basalt fabric
(420 g/m2) combined with the aluminum foil with the
Butacoll A+ glue. The heat transmission coefficient for
Textile Research Journal 83(17)
the rest of the aluminized fabrics over-crossed the value
of 200 seconds and is significantly higher than the value
described in the standard, i.e. 95 seconds. The graphical
representation of the results concerning the radiant
heat resistance for the particular basalt fabric variants
is shown in Figure 3.
Assessment of the resistance to small splashes
of molten metal and size change after exposure
to hot air
Two successive parameters, i.e. the resistance to small
splashes of molten metal and the size change after
exposure to hot air were examined for all the basalt
fabric variants. Both parameters were assessed, taking
into account a possible application of basalt gloves by
welders as well as other activities concerning the metal-
lurgy industry. The results as well as confirmation of
the fulfillment (or not) of the standard requirements are
presented in Table 10.
The resistance to small molten metal splashes in the
case of non-aluminized fabrics did not fulfill the
requirements of the EN 407:2004 standard. The
number of drops for all the aluminized fabric variants
seems to confirm the standard requirements. However,
even with an acceptable number of drops allowed to
pass the test in the case of fabrics of symbol 4, 5 and
6, the final test result for them is negative because of the
Hrynyk et al. 1867

Figure 3. The set of result of the resistance to radiant heat for the basalt fabrics and their aluminized variants.

Table 10. The results of resistance to small splashes of molten fabrics of symbols 1, 2 and 3. The changes in the fabric
metal and of heat resistance for the particular variants of basalt appearance after the treatment of the samples by small
fabrics molten metal splashes are presented in Figures 5–7.
Resistance to small Size change after The measurement of the small molten metal splashes
splashes of exposure to hot air activity showed that for all non-aluminized basalt
Fabric molten metal (%) warp direction fabric variants aluminized with the use of the Bonatex
symbol (number of drops) X/weft direction Y PU85 glue, metal drops caused holes in the fabrics
(Figures 5 and 7). A significantly better effect and
I 3 (—) — higher performance level was obtained for the fabrics
II 5 (—) — aluminized with the Butacoll A+ glue (Figure 6).
III 5 (—) — The heat resistance measurements were carried out
1 34 (3) 0.7/ 0.7 only for aluminized fabrics, because in the case of non-
2 >37 (4) 0.2/0.0 aluminized fabrics the fabric thread displacement dis-
3 >37 (4) 0.2/0.0 abled the measurement. All the aluminized basalt fab-
4 30 (—) 1.4/ 0.2 rics fulfilled the EN 659:2003+A1:2008+AC:2009
5 23 (—) 2.6/0 standard requirements at an air temperature of
6 26 (—) 2.6/ 0.9 180 C. This standard concerns the gloves for fire-
fighters. The size changes in the X and Y directions
Values in parentheses describe the performance levels related to protect- are presented in Figure 8.
ive properties; dash means fabric variant does not fulfil requirement of
the standard.
Mechanical properties of non-aluminized
changes that occurred in the tested samples. Therefore,
and aluminized basalt fabrics
these fabric variants cannot be used to ensure hand Assessment of the abrasion resistance. From the point of
protection against small molten metal splashes. abrasion, the best were two variants of aluminized fab-
The graphic form of the results including resistance rics of symbols 3 and 6 made of the same basalt fabric
to small molten metal splashes is shown in Figure 4. characterized by the highest mass per square meter
In the case of this parameter, as in the previous (Figure 9). In both cases the second performance level
cases, a better performance level was obtained for the was achieved. For the rest of the aluminized fabrics as
aluminized fabrics with the Butacoll A+ glue, i.e. the well as for non-aluminized variant III, the first
1868 Textile Research Journal 83(17)

Figure 4. The results of the resistance to the small molten metal splashes for the basalt fabrics and their aluminized variants.

Figure 5. Effect of treatment by small molten metal splashes of non-aluminized basalt fabrics: A 170 g/m2, B 420 g/m2,
C 730 g/m2.

Figure 6. Effect of treatment by small molten metal splashes of basalt fabrics aluminized with Butacoll A+ glue: A 170 g/m2,
B 420 g/m2, C 730 g/m2.

performance level was achieved. It should be pointed
out that the raw basalt fabrics of symbols I and II do
not fulfill the requirements of the standard in the range
of abrasion. It confirms that in this case the aluminiza-
tion modification of the fabrics improves the protective
properties.
Assessment of the fatigue bending resistance. In the range of
fabric strength properties of aluminized basalt fabrics,
the fatigue bending resistance according to the EN ISO
7854:1997 standard was tested. This parameter was also
applied for checking the bonding durability of alumi-
num foil with basalt fabric as an aluminization process
Hrynyk et al. 1869

Figure 7. Effect of treatment by small molten metal splashes of basalt fabrics aluminized with Bonatex PU85 glue: A 170 g/m2,
B 420 g/m2, C 730 g/m2.

Figure 8. The results of assessment of fabric size changes after exposure to hot air for the aluminized basalt fabrics.

Figure 9. Results of abrasion resistance for aluminized and non-aluminized basalt fabrics.
1870
Figure 10. Aluminized fabrics after testing of the fatigue bending resistance. Symbols of fabrics correspond to the description in
Table 3.
quality assessment. The appearance of aluminized
basalt fabrics after fatigue bending is presented in
Figure 10.
The results of fatigue bending resistance according
to EN ISO 7854:1997 was assessed with the use of a
four-grade scale describing the worsening of appear-
ance (from 0 up to 3). All the examined aluminized
basalt fabric variants showed changes of surface
appearance due to the fatigue bending cycles. The regis-
tered failures included small wrinkles, cracks and fabric
surface wrinkling. The observed worsening of appear-
ance of measured fabric variants in comparison to non-
bent fabric was equal to one in the case of each variant.
Registered changes do not affect the protective proper-
ties of fabrics.
Summing up the experiments
According to the parameters defined in the standards
concerning protective gloves designed for use in ther-
mal risks, only basalt fabrics aluminized with Butacoll
A+ glue fulfill all requirements, i.e. flammability,
resistance to contact, convective and radiant heat as
well as resistance to small splashes of molten metal
and size change after exposure to hot air.
Flammability tests confirmed that only two variants
of basalt fabrics did not fulfill the requirements, i.e. 170
and 420 g/m2 aluminized with the use of Bonatex PU85
glue. In the case of other variants, the after-flame and
after-glove times reached the highest performance level
according to EN 407:2004.
Textile Research Journal 83(17)
Tests on the resistance to contact heat failed at a
temperature of 250 C; therefore, 100 C was used in
the next step. The lower range of the contact heat con-
firmed that only the aluminized basalt fabric of symbol
4 and non-aluminized fabric of symbol I are not enough
to meet the requirements.
The use of three different values of mass per square
meter basalt fabrics within the study was related to the
flexibility of the fabrics and their modified variants
designed for final products. The higher mass per
square meter can affect manual functionality and dex-
terity of the gloves. However, aluminized with Butacoll
A+ glue, fabrics meet the requirements in terms of all
tested parameters. The second performance level con-
cerning convective heat resistance was observed for
variants III, 3 and 6, characterized by the mass per
square meter higher than 730 g/m2. Lower values regis-
tered within the study for other variants are related to
the first performance level for this parameter.
Taking into account the radiant heat resistance of
the fabrics, the aluminization finishing was responsible
for a significant increase in protective performance
level, achieving the highest level for all aluminized
variants.
Distinguishing between both aluminization tech-
niques is important with relation to protecting fabrics
against small molten metal splashes. A significant
advantage again was revealed for Butacoll A+ glue.
Because fabrics of symbols 4 and 5 did not pass the
flammability tests, they cannot be applied for use in
gloves protecting against small molten metal splashes
designed for metallurgic purpose, e.g. welders.
Hrynyk et al.
The study of aluminized variants of basalt fabrics
has shown that the use of the Bonatex PU85 glue
gives insufficient results concerning heat resistance
and resistance to thermal radiation. Additionally,
these modifications reduce the resistance of the fabric
in protecting against small molten metal splashes.
Another disadvantage of this modification is the flam-
mability of textiles.
Conclusions
Up till now basalt fabrics were not recognized as a
material for PPE application; they were used mostly
for technical purposes. Results of a number of prelim-
inary tests carried out in the Central Institute for
Labour Protection – National Research Institute on
different types of basalt fabrics indicate that these
types of fabrics can be used in protective glove con-
struction. Taking into account the possible methods
of glove manufacturing and intended use, the most
appropriate seem to be basalt fabrics finished with alu-
minum foil, although they passed the contact heat test
only at a contact temperature of 100 C. The aluminiza-
tion technique with Butacoll A+ glue is suggested
because the second technique with Bonatex gave insuf-
ficient results.
Concluding, it can be stated that:
1. The best protective and utility properties are fulfilled
by the basalt fabrics aluminized with the use of
Butacoll A+ glue.
2. Using the indicated basalt fabrics in protective
gloves will be checked in the further part of the pro-
ject. It is justified by the fact that in the protective
glove design the aluminized basalt fabrics will be
used in a multilayer structure with other components
that, according to the experiments, will cause
improvement of the protective properties, which
were insufficient when the aluminized basalt fabrics
are applied by themselves.
3. The performed experiments indicate that the appli-
cation of aluminized basalt fabrics in PPE, e.g. pro-
tective gloves or clothing, can give promising results.
Taking into account the economical aspect, the man-
ufacturing cost reduction is feasible because of the
lower price of basalt fibers compared with aramid or
glass ones.
Funding
This research was partially supported by the Ministry of
Science and Higher Education, Poland (project EUREKA
No E! 4505).
1871
Conflict of interest statement
None declared.
References
1. Cooke TF. Inorganic fibers – a literature review. J Am
Ceram Soc 1991; 74: 2959–3157.
2. Kovacic V and Militky J. New products —
Thermomechanical properties of basalt fibres. Fibres
Text East Eur 1996; 1/96(12): 68–73.
3. Militky J. Ultimate mechanical properties of basalt fila-
ments. Text Res J 1996; 66: 225–229.
4. Militky J, Kovacic V and Bajzik V. Mechanical proper-
ties of basalt filaments. Fibres Text East Eur 2007; 15:
64–65.
5. Nolf JM. Basalt fibres fire blocking textiles. TUT No 49,
http://www.basaltex.com/en/publications.aspx (2003,
accessed 02 January 2012).
6. Nolf JM and Outtier T. Basalt and its multiple applica-
tions. TUT No 55, http://www.basaltex.com/en/publica-
tions.aspx (2005, accessed 02 January 2012).
7. Van de Velde K, Kiekens P and Van Langenhove L.
Basalt fibres as reinforcement for composites, Research
& Development, http://www.basaltex.com/en/r-d.aspx
(2009, accessed 02 January 2012).
8. Technical specification of fibers available in the market.
TexbasTM official webpage, http://texbas.eu/tkanina-
bazaltowa.html (accessed 02 January 2012).
9. Doll R and Peto J. Asbestos: effects on health of exposure
to asbestos. Health and Safety Commission, 4th edn.
London: HMSO, 1996.
10. Technical specification of basalt textiles, TexbasTM offi-
cial webpage, http://www.texbas.eu/kt%20tkaniny%20-
bazaltowe%20texbas.pdf (accessed 02 January 2012).
11. Frydrych I. Science about clothing materials – materials
for protective clothing. Part I: Clothing protecting
against the flame. Textile Review 2008; 6: 29–33.
12. Deak T and Czigany T. Chemical composition and mech-
anical properties of basalt and glass fibers: a comparison.
Text Res J 2009; 79: 645–651.
13. Baozhong S, Zhilin N, Lvtao Z, et al. Mechanical
Behaviors of 2D and 3D Basalt Fiber Woven
Composites Under Various Strain Rates. J Compos
Mater 2010; 44: 1779–1795.
14. Characteristics of the Butacoll A+ glue, http://www.a-
ned.biz.pl/pliki_inne/153.pdf (accessed 02 January 2012).
15. Technical specification of Bonatex PU85 glue, manufac-
turer webpage, http://www.bochemia.com.pl/en/ofer-
ta.html (accessed 02 January 2012).
16. Horrocks AR and Anand SC. Handbook of technical tex-
tiles. Boca Raton: Woodhead Publ. Ltd., 2004, p.482.
17. EN 407:2004. Protective gloves against thermal risks
(heat and/or fire).
18. ISO 17493:2000. Clothing and equipment for protection
against heat. Test method for convective heat resistance
using a hot air circulating oven.
19. EN 659:2003+A1:2008+AC:2009. Protective gloves for
firefighters.
1872
20. EN ISO 15025:2002. Protective clothing. Protection
against heat and flame. Method of test for limited
flame spread.
21. EN 702:1994. Protective clothing. Protection against heat
and flame. Test method. Determination of the contact
heat transmission through protective clothing or its
materials.
22. EN 367:1992. Protective clothing. Protection against heat
and fire. Method for determining heat transmission on
exposure to flame.
Textile Research Journal 83(17)
23. EN ISO 6942:2002. Protective clothing. Protection
against heat and fire. Method of test: Evaluation of
materials and material assemblies when exposed to a
source of radiant heat.
24. EN 348:1992. Protective clothing. Determination of
behaviour of materials on impact of small splashes of
molten metal.
25. EN 388:2003. Protective gloves against mechanical risks.
26. EN ISO 7854:1997. Rubber- or plastic-coated fabrics.
Determination of resistance to damage by flexing.