A team of textile scientists from the University of Alberta in Canada have developed sensors that detect the subtle signs of fiber breakdown — due to ultraviolet (UV) light, moisture and heat exposure — in the protective garments worn by firefighters.

Because aging protective gear is a safety hazard for firefighters and that breakdown is not always visible to the naked eye, the University of Alberta team developed a sensor patch that can be adhered to protective garments.

The sensor patch, developed in conjunction with Davey Textile Solutions, uses graphene to create conductive tracks on the patch’s surface. When exposed to heat, moisture and UV light that exceeds a certain threshold, the graphene track will lose its electrical conductivity and an accompanying voltmeter checks the sensor patch to determine if electrical conductivity has been lost — signaling that the garment is no longer safe.

So far, the sensor patch has earned a provisional patent and can be used in lieu of destructive testing wherein samples are cut from the fabric. Likewise, the developers believe the patch could be used for fabrics in the construction, mining, and oil and gas industries.