What's the deal with mesh pants that melt on impact?

[Asphalt_Carver]

Even though it is December, I still keep thinking about the long hot days of summer gone by.  I spent half the time wearing my heavy textile pants (MotoGP Alpine) and half wearing mesh pants (Fieldsheer Titanium Air.)   I could deal with wearing the Alpine pants all the time, but there were days where the mesh pants really made my legs and groin much more comfortable.

Now, the question is that I have heard that some manufacturers spray their mesh apparel with a coating the can heat up and "melt" into your skin during a crash.  Is this true or just mere Internet propaganda?  If it is true, I am considering putting my Titanium Air pants in the garbage and shelling out for a new set of Motoport Air Kevlar pants.

Thoughts?  Comments?  Observations?

Thanks!

[tag2501]

According to a couple of websites (including MotoPort), you have it right.  Two issues with some less expensive mesh gear.   One is polyester versus Cordura/nylon mesh.  The polyester melts more easily under the heat of friction.  Second issue is the Polyurethane coating that many manufacturers put on their mesh gear.  It melts even more easily under heat.  I've heard of folks having surgery to get the metled PU out of their skin after going down and sliding with shorts under the wrong gear.  No first hand experience to back this up, but that is the story.

[Joey Stalin]

Well the trick is, while you're sliding down the road, shift your weight around so that you don't ride on one area for too long.

 

[license2ill]

Motoport is the only source of that info I've ever seen. You get an occassional anecdote to go with it, but never anything concrete that relates to any products or materials in general or speicfically under specified conditions. It's all conjecture. As it stands, most polyesters apparently have a lower melting point than nylons, but as to whether it's a huge issue of concern seems like a non-issue in use. There are a few new textiles that are now CE-approved as a whole, and at least on that is made with polyester fabrics, and it's the most protective suit available. I'm not sure if the CE tests include flammability or melting requirements, but they certainly include requirements for innoccuousness of the materials, which that might fall under. Either way, polyester in that CE-apporved form is much more protective than any other suit available, even moreso than most leather suits in fact. The Halvarsson's Safety Suit is that piece, only available in Europe right now.

Polyurethane coatings could also melt in a slide, I suppose, and it's use in those textiles, as do most of hte fabrics, comes straight from other textile industries that have no ties to motorcycling crash protection needs, so I'm sure there could be an issue with it's use, but there are a number of other factors that are much more important or relevant to consider first and foremost in their use. THe same issues of stitching, abrasion resistance, impact protection, cut resistance, tear resistance, and restraint are areas where most textiles aren't up to par with the CE requirements or with fitted leather suits. Those points are of much more concern than worries of melting, and like was said are areas where they typically are not up to snuff as a whole, whether it be coated nylons, un-lined polyesters, Keprotec, or any other woven materials.

[couchflyer]

Most non-leather clothing is made out of a petroleum derivative, which melts when it gets hot.  So if you fall and are sliding on the tar there will be friction causing heat causing melting.

[98SVT_LEO]

Yet another reason to just use good ole leather

[RickC1957]

Yet another reason to just use good ole leather

 

[Ant]

Yet another reason to just use good ole leather

Can't beat a bit of good ol' dead cow

[Bodhi]

Can't beat a bit of good ol' dead cow

Cept when it heats up it smells like a burger.

[Bandera]

 I still keep thinking about the long hot days of summer
 there were days where the mesh pants really made my legs and groin much more comfortable.

Asphalt_Carver,

When it's >90F with 90% humidity the 'stich and the perforated leathers stay in the closet and the mesh gear goes on. My two year old Fieldsheer mesh pants have leather reinforcements on the knees, seat and hips with CE armor. Not a bad compromise when it's too stinkin' hot for 'real' gear, which is most of the year here in the Hill Country.

Regards,

Bandera

[PhilBiker]

Personally I would not use any mesh gear that does not have heavy ballistic nylon in the "impact zones".  I have a Marsee jacket and pants which zip together and have CE armor and large ballistic nylon surfaces.

[TalkingHead]

I'm glad I live in a place where mesh gear is never needed (and can still, pretty much, ride year round).