Domestic technical textiles Industry Segment-wise consumption of ...

High-Visibility clothing
High visibility clothes (also known as Reflective-wear) have become very essential for the protection
of people working in poorly lit environments like mines, highways, airport runways, cyclist etc. In the
dark, the high visibility clothing increases the ability to spot working and guiding personnel.
Product characteristics
There are broadly three types of high visibility clothing:
1. Reflection materials which shine when struck by light
2. Photo luminescent material which give yellow light in dark
3. Fluorescent material which is more visible even during the day
Photo luminescent materials absorb the artificial light and emit green-yellow light in the darkness.
Zinc Sulphide crystals which are not radioactive and non toxic pigments. Fluorescent materials
convert energy from non-visible UV rays into visible. These are useful during daylight but offer little
protection in the dark as they do not emit or reflect light.
The high visibility clothing is available in two classes:
1. Suits with plastic tapes
2. Suits with glass beads – or retro-reflective tapes – these give visibility up to 600 meters.
Retro-reflective tapes are based on the principle that if the incident rays of light fall on
concave glass, the reflected rays travel back in the same direction. This enhances the visibility
of the person wearing garments consisting of retro reflective tapes. The technology involves
coating of highly reflective glass beads with density as much as 50,000 tiny glass beads per
square inch light.
Ideal high visibility apparel should have the following characteristics
• Light weight
• Both day and night visibility.
• Air and moisture permeability to ensure wearer comfort (Breathing perforated cloth mesh
allows air and moisture through, enabling the vest to be worn over clothing in any weather.)
• Universal one-size-fits-all design features so that jackets/Vests can be shared by the
employees working n different shifts.
• Hemmed edges for durability and neatness