Auxetic Textiles for Improved Blast / Ballistic Protection

Luna Innovations, teamed with University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth has developed a novel textile technology to provide improved protection for soldiers. Soldiers are exposed to significant risk of injury and death from gun shots and blasts from improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Whereas heavy protective armor exists, it is bulky leading to thermal discomfort, additional weight, and difficulty in maneuvering. Lightweight armor, on the other hand, often does not have the level of protection required for ballistic and blast protection. Auxetic textiles have demonstrated a remarkable enhancement in mechanical properties due to the ability to thicken in all dimensions when exposed to high shear impact stress rather than thin out as with conventional woven textiles. These novel textiles can absorb and disperse energy extremely well for added protection from ballistic and blast threats. Our team utilizes a novel auxetic warp knit structure that has demonstrated higher air / moisture permeability and flexibility compared with traditional woven aramids for improved comfort. Lunas team will exploit recent advances in this area with years of experience in auxetic textile development to provide lightweight protective garments with superior ballistic and blast protection and added comfort for higher user acceptability.