Recycling of inherently flame-resistant fabrics for protective clothing: A comprehensive review

Abstract

The accelerated consumption of flame-resistant (FR) fabrics increases the amount of textile waste. Moreover, aramids take a very long time to degrade in landfills and should not be incinerated. Mechanical recycling offers opportunities to tackle this challenge. Yet, limited information is available on this topic. The mechanical recycling process comprises collection of cleaned used FR garments, sorting of fabrics based on fibre content and color, removal of accessories, shredding, blending with virgin fibres, spinning into yarns, knitting/weaving, dyeing, and production of new FR garments. Remaining challenges include the presence of residual contaminants from prior fire exposure; reduction in fibre length after shredding; difficult balance between performance and cost; and dyeing conditions to accommodate the different fibres and residual color on the recycled fibres. Moving forward, researchers should optimize the processes from used garment collection to new FR garment production as well as develop solutions to remove the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) liquid-repellent finishes from the fabrics prior to recycling. It will also be important to assess the long-term performance of fabrics made with recycled fibres. Combining the different expertise required to tackle these challenges will be key for mechanical recycling to improve the sustainability of FR protective clothing.