PBI GOLD's Contribution

PBI (Polybenzimidazole), was originally developed for the NASA Apollo space program, is an extraordinary organic fiber that does not burn in air. The leader of this revolution in fire fighting gear is a fabric – PBI GOLD^® developed by Celanese Acetate LLC. It is a blend of 40% PBI and 60% Aramid woven in a ripstop construction and therefore combines the superior thermal, chemical and comfort qualities of PBI, with the high strength quality of aramid, the fiber is made for bulletproof vests. PBI GOLD^® provides outstanding thermal performance, and excellent resistance to solvents, fuels, caustics, and strong acids. But, as tough as it is, PBI GOLD^® is soft and supple, for the comfort and need of mobility firefighters. It cleans easily so it does not need special treatment.

Field Proven in Project FIRES, NFPA and EN469 standard

Turnout coats made with PBI GOLD^® have proven themselves through extensive field-testing in 14 cities, under the guidance of the International Association of Firefighters and the International Association of Fire Chiefs. As a result, PBI GOLD^® is now specified as the preferred shell fabric for ensembles meeting with Project FIRES criteria.

Moreover, it far exceeds NFPA and EN469 requirements, remaining to be flexible and strong, even with severe thermal exposure. It is a combination of benefits that no other fabric can match. Since 1983, PBI GOLD^® has been widely recognized as the premium product in outer shell and hood protection.

PBI GOLD's Privilege

The test results shown below are further evidence of the toughness and superior thermal protection offered by PBI GOLD^® , the outshell fabric used by Vulcan^®. PBI GOLD^® exceeds NFPA and EN469 requirements. In addition, it outperforms competitive fabrics in many tests. In the results reported here, PBI GOLD^® is compared with a traditional aramid. Both fabrics weigh 7.5 oz/yd².

Resists Flame

In U.S. Army laboratory tests ( AFML TR-73-28), flight-suit prototypes were evaluated in a pit containing burning JP-4 jet fuel. These tests subjected an instrumented mannequin to a 3-second flame exposure. Sensors measured temperature rise and predicted the extent of skin damage a human wearer would sustain in an exposure equivalent to test conditions. The mannequin wearing a flight suit made with PBI GOLD^® sustained only 2% skin damage as compared to 20% for flight suit made with aramid. The superior flame resistance of PBI GOLD^® is also reflected in the following tests:

1. FSTM 191-5903-Expose fabric samples vertically to a 1600°F flame for 12 sec.

2. Similar but more severe test, FSTM 191-5905, exposes the samples to a 1750°F flame for two 12-second exposure.
   

Superior Thermal Performance

PBI GOLD^® has superior thermal performance as indicated by the following test results:

1. A fabric’s limiting oxygen index (ASTMD-2863) indicates the level of oxygen required to sustain continuous burning and consume a 5-cm fabric strip in 3 minutes. PBI GOLD^® with higher limiting oxygen values are more difficult to ignite.

2. The contact heat ignition test measures the number of seconds to ignite a fabric that is in contact with 860°C steel at a 1-psi load.
   

Strong and Tough

These test results below show the strength and toughness of PBI GOLD^® (In the tear and tensile tests, samples were cut to test yarns along with the warp X filling of the fabrics.)

1. Burst Strength test (ASTMD-3787) indicates the fabric’s resistance to puncturing when a force is applied at right angles to the fabric surface.

2. Tear Strength test (ASTMD-1424) indicates the resistance to accidental tearing.

3. Tensile Strength test (ASTMD-1682) shows the force required to rupture the fabric.
   

Resists Chemicals

The tests reported below measured strength loss of the PBI GOLD^® after 10-hour exposures to a variety of common chemicals. All of the chemicals were at 21°C. After exposure, the tensile strength test (ASTMD-1682) was used to measure strength loss and for:

1. 0-15% degradation were rated as “None”
2. 16-30% degradation was rated as “Slight”
3. 31-45% degradation was rated as “Moderate”

Turnout Gear with Excellent Comfort

PBI GOLD^® has soft, natural aesthetics and excellent comfort. Compared with other high-performance fibers, PBI fiber’s low modulus and its elongated cross section are like that of cotton. Both of these factors are contributed by the softness and flexibility of fabrics made with PBI. In addition, PBI (with a moisture regain of 15%) is 50% more absorbent than cotton. Gillette Research Institute independently compared the comfort of PBI garments with cotton garments and judged PBI comparable to cotton in comfort. With a good choice of moisture and thermal barriers, Vulcan offers you excellent comfort.

Offers Excellent Electrostatic Dissipation

PBI’s chemical structure and high moisture regain contribute to excellent static dissipation, as shown in Table Below. PBI GOLD^® surface resistivity is 1000 times lower than aramids. In addition, PBI shows no static cling to nylon fabric at humidities as low as 25 % RH.

About the structure of Vulcan^® fire-fighter suits, it comes with 3 and 4 layers :

The above picture shows the structure of the Gore-tex^® airlock system with both moisture barrier and heat barrier functions.

Outer layer: PBI GOLD^® fabric

Middle layer: GORE-TEX^® waterproof breathable layer


Inner layer: Flame retardant interlining layer

is a registered trademark of Celanese Acetate LLC.
Kevlar^® and Nomex^® are trademarks of E. I. au Pont oc Nemours & Co., Inc.
is a registered trademark of Millennium Advance Technology.
Crosstech^®, Gore-tex^®, Fireblocker^® and Airlock^® are the registered trademarks of W.L. Gore & Associates Inc.

Vulcan utilizing PBI GOLD^® as the outershell with different kinds of high performance moisture and thermal barriers such as Crosstech^®, Fireblocker^®, Airlock^® and others, is engineered to meet all the tough demands of a firefighter’s job.