Chemical Warfare Agent Spray Detection System

Warfighters need to remove blister CWA contamination as quickly as possible and to reduce the logistical burden to warfighters for decontamination processes, perform a more targeted decontamination process through visualization and mapping of blister CWA contamination on surfaces (equipment, tactical vehicles, and weapons). There also is a need to check surfaces post decontamination to confirm the area has been decontaminated to at or below detectable levels of blister CWA contamination. To this end, additional research and development is needed to improve sensitivity, ease of use, increase pot life, increase shelf-life, and incorporate these elements into a spray type application. During this Phase II effort, a novel spray prototype will be developed to enhance visual contamination mapping capabilities for both decontamination assurance and/or mapping. This spray will enable the detection of sulfur mustard at levels less than 0.01 g/m2.