2025 Finalist: Advanced Manufacturing
Protecting Protectors: Graphene End-of-Life Sensors for Firefighter PPE
Fire-protective clothing quietly loses performance as high-performance fibers degrade with heat, UV and moisture, putting firefighters and other at-risk workers in danger despite no visible wear. This project embeds end-of-life sensors into garments: heat/UV/moisture modules with a sacrificial polymer that, once degraded, breaks a graphene circuit to warn the wearer. The innovation improves safety, gives procurement true end-of-life data to save costs and cut waste, and raises user awareness while training highly qualified personnel across textiles, materials, and human-centered fields.
