Novel Flame Resistant Nonwoven Fabrics for Uniforms

Luna Innovations, teamed with North Carolina State Universitys (NCSU) Non-Wovens Institute (NWI), will meet the Armys need to develop a novel wash durable non-woven textile. This practical system will provide military uniforms with excellent flame resistant (FR) protection at a lower manufacturing cost without compromising performance such as durability, repellency, and vector protection. The initial targeted application will be a combat shirt fabric (Basic material A of GL-PD-10-02E). An ideal solution would be a wash-durable non-woven, which is either inherently flame resistant, or treated to impart FR properties, yet maintains the key properties of the garment such as breathability, high tear strength, and comfort. Our team will build on years of experience with a patented wash durable non-woven fabric technology. The Phase I program will study three novel concepts integrating inherently flame retardant fibers and FR treatments to produce a practical, cost effective textile to meet the specifications for Army and other military uniforms.