Chiang Mai Journal of Science

     Sodium alginate fibre is an environmentally friendly cellulose fibre with excellent self-flame retardancy. This study examined the thermal protection, and wearing properties of needled non-woven from three kinds of pure calcium alginate with different gram weights, and explore the feasibility of it for fire service insulation layer. In addition, it is compared with the three main components of fire-fighting clothing insulation blankets with aramid 1313. The results show that compared with traditional fire-fighting insulation felts such as aramid 1313, calcium alginate non-woven had higher shrinkage, but it exhibited better breathability and moisture permeability and wearing comfort. The thermal stability under dry conditions was relatively poor, but the low thermal radiation protection performance of single-layer fabric was better than that of aramid 1313. Under the same weight, the comprehensive thermal convection protection performance of seaweed fabric is close to that of aramid 1313, but its flame retardant properties such as high-temperature resistance and open flame resistance are far better than aramid fibre 1313. In addition, the resulting smoke is not toxic and there is no melt dripping , the shape retention ability is better at high temperatures. After subsequent improvement, it could be applied to thermal insulation for fire suits and even more thermal protection scenarios.