ELECTROSTATIC CHARACTERISTICS OF THERMAL-PROTECTIVE GARMENTS AT LOW HUMIDITY

The electrostatic discharge between a clothed human body and the groun d has been investigated under conditions of low atmospheric humidities . Measurements were carried out during two experiments which generated electrostatic charge from two different types of human activity. Subj ects wore layered garment systems consisting of several combinations o f different thermal-protective fabrics. Discharge-current waveforms an d other discharge parameters were determined for each fabric system, a nd differences among systems were analyzed. Maximum discharge energies of up to 15mJ and peak potentials of up to 13kV were observed. The ou ter garment in a garment system had the greatest influence on discharg e parameters, but inner garments also had an effect. Outer garments co ntaining antistatic fibers generated the lowest values.