NEWS DIGEST Smart second skin
state, the uniform material will block the chemical threat while maintaining a good breathability level. “The uniform will be like a smart second skin that responds to the environment,” said LLNL team leader Francesco Fornasiero. UMass Amherst’s expertise in
Military uniforms of the future may offer a new layer of critical protection to a highly breathable, reversible new nanotube-based material.
Research teams at the University of Massachusetts Amherst collaborating with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL are developing a nanotube-based fabric that repels chemical and biological agents. They recently received a five-year $1.8 million grant to design ways to manufacture the new material as part of a $13 million
project funded by the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), for deploy- ment in the field in less than 10 years. The researchers say the fabric will be
able to switch reversibly from a highly breathable state to a protective one in response to the presence of the environ- mental threat without the need for an external control system. In the protective
…and protecting the skin
Significant differences exist between hazmat incidents and domestic CBRN terrorist attacks. First Responders dressed in their standardised suits would arrive too late on the scene and wouldn’t be able to stay as long as required. So, protective equipment with the optimal compromise between ‘perfect’ protection and functionality is needed, is easy and fast to don for first-responders to work in chaotic situations for long periods. The SARATOGA® Multipurpose CBRN
Protective Coverall Polyprotect 12 by Blücher is based on a new lightweight air-permeable technology incorporating high-performance spherical adsorbers. The coverall is designed to protect against CWAs in liquid and vapour form for up to 12 hours, and against aerosols and radioactive particles. The outer shell fabric layer consists of 100% Polyamide ripstop woven fabric, the filter inner layer is a laminated composite consisting of a Polyamide non-woven fabric (covering layer next to the shell fabric), activated carbon spheres (adsorptive layer) and a Polyester warp-knitted fabric (lining
additive-driven assembly processes has brought polymers and nanoparticles together to produce hybrid functional materials. The new fabric’s reversibility is due to highly breathable membranes with pores made of a few-nanometer- wide, vertically-aligned carbon nano- tubes modified with a functional surface layer designed to respond to the presence of a chemical warfare agent (CWA). The threat response would be triggered by direct CWA attack. The fabric would switch to a protective state by closing the pore entrance or by shedding the contaminated surface layer. For wearer comfort and safety, high
breathability is a critical requirement for protective clothing to prevent heat stress when military personnel are engaged in missions in contaminated environments. To provide high breathability, the new composite material will take advantage of the unique transport properties of carbon nanotube pores, which offer gas transport rates two orders of magnitude faster than any other pore of similar size. zy
fabric next to the skin). The coverall includes an integrated
hood which is compatible with a wider range of protective masks and can be adapted to further specific models. Improved closures on arm and leg ends guarantee best possible interfacing with protective gloves and overboots. A long front zipper facilitates quick donning. Rustling noise is avoided by using soſt
and flexible materials. The coverall is available in 6 sizes, can be laundered up to 6 times and can be stored for 10 years in the unopened and undamaged original package. The weight of a medium coverall is around 1.2 kg. The scope of delivery includes a repair kit. In comparison to an impermeable
suit, the Polyprotect 12 coverall has excellent comfort properties. zy
CBNW 2013/01 07
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