ACCUMULATION OF STATIC ELECTRICITY ON ARCTIC CLOTHING

• Main Authors: Veghte,James H., Millard,Walter W.
• Other Authors: ARCTIC AEROMEDICAL LAB FORT WAINWRIGHT ALASKA
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Published: 1963
• Subjects: CLOTHING; STATIC ELECTRICITY; COLD WEATHER TESTS; HAZARDS; CAPACITANCE; Arctic; Parka
• Online Access: http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/AD0412781; http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=AD0412781

Electrostatic voltages and capacitance on active men wearing various arctic clothing assemblies were measured at temperatures ranging from 5 to -43 C. Although there is an increase of electrostatic charges on arctic clothing assemblies with a decrease in ambient temper ature, the stored energy calculations indicate there is no danger of igniting explosive gas-air mixtures due to a discharge of the electrostatic charges under normal conditions. A hazard may exist, however, if a person rapidly removes his outer jacket while working outside in a hazardous gas-air mixture. Also, a definite buildup of electrostatic charges above the critical thresh old for igniting a concentrated gas-air mixture by an electrostatic discharge exists when a person working out-of-doors comes in and removes his parka or wool shirt without first properly grounding himself. (Author)