Novel Pyroelectric Coatings to Provide Insect Resistant Textiles

Military personnel are often deployed to areas where they are at risk from insect-borne diseases such as malaria, scrub typhus, leishmaniasis, and Lyme disease. To protect against insect-borne disease, the U.S. military has formulated clothing impregnated with permethrin, a chemical insecticide effective against multiple arthropod disease vectors, including mosquitoes. However, alternatives to permethrin are sought. Permethrin is toxic to humans and to wildlife, insects are increasingly resistant to its effects and the procedures by which it is applied are burdensome to personnel in the field. This proposal describes a novel approach to the formation of insect repellant clothing. Instead of using a chemical insecticide, textiles surfaces are modified to have unique physical properties to deter insect contact with the clothing, thereby minimizing the risk of bites or stings. The proposed protective surface finish can be factory-applied as a post treatment, with applicability to most military garment types. Minimal changes to the fabrics weight, wear resistance and breathability/comfort are expected. The protective surface finish does not present any health hazard and no harmful chemicals are released into the environment. Proof-of-concept studies will be performed on surface modified fabric swatches with subsequent assessment by in vivo assay.