The aim of the research project was to develop user-friendly, knitted, single-layer, active laser protection gloves for industrial and medical use on laser systems in the spectral range of near-infrared radiation. The knitted, active laser safety gloves should provide effective protection against laser radiation from the laser systems used. This makes a significant contribution to reducing the risk and maintaining the health of employees at their workplace. In order to motivate people to wear the protective clothing, it was also necessary to include wearing comfort and haptics in the development, in addition to the basic functionality.

The solution for the production of such a laser safety glove was the development of an elastic but dense moulded knit. On the one hand, the use of suitable conductive, optically resistant yarn combinations was intended to minimise skin damage caused by exposure to laser radiation. On the other hand, the system was to be actively checked for damage on the basis of integrated sensor technology and the system was to be switched off in the event of laser exposure.

In the course of the project, knitting patterns with different material combinations were successfully developed and analysed with regard to their material properties and suitability for use in laser safety gloves. Based on the results of the investigations, a prototype sample of a laser protection glove was developed.

Furthermore, the test arrangement for determining the protective properties was adapted, which provides small and medium-sized companies in the protective textiles and hand protection industry with guidance for the development and sale of products against such risks.
As part of the project work, measurements of the transmission, remission and absorption values were also carried out to determine the physical protective properties, which provide an assessment of the protective effect. The burning behaviour of the materials used was also tested. To determine the laser protection properties, real irradiation was carried out with determination of the change in the electrical properties of the conductive yarn and calorimetric heat flux measurements.

The "Knitted, active laser protection gloves" project is the one thousandth project in the innovation catalogue for the INNO-KOM Innovation Competence funding programme.