In this paper a novel blister-inflation technique is utilized to evaluate the permeability of test fabrics under biaxial stretching conditions. The effect of inflation temperature and internal pressure drop across the fabric on the permeability of the fabrics can be evaluated by the technique. The performances of two different fabrics were evaluated. These are: (1) a traditional polyamide nylon 66; and (2) a high strength poly(ethylene terephthalate). The changes in the permeability of the fabric were explored for both increased pressure drops across the fabric and increased temperature. Temperature is especially significant around and above the glass-transition temperature of these polymers. It is believed that the technique can be a useful tool for simulating the pressure-temperature-time history of the airbag during deployment.
Abstract