Evaluation of Flammability of Footwear Upper Materials: Patent and Regular Shoe Upper Leather Vs. Porvair and Clarino Poromerics

The Chief of Naval Operations requested that the Navy Clothing and Textile Research Facility investigate the flammability and burn hazard potential of poromeric materials (Porvair and Clarino), after poromeric shoes worn by a sailor caught fire and severely burned his feet. As a result, poromeric materials were compared with regular and patent leather under several heat and flammability conditions. The findings showed poromerics burn when exposed to open flames and are indeed potentially hazardous; while the leathers, including patent leather, which has an easy-care finish like the poromerics, are fire retardant.