Superoleophobic Coatings for Easy Cleaning Textiles

Luna Innovations Incorporated is addressing the Army need to develop self cleaning uniforms through the use of extremely low surface energy nanostructured textile coatings. The novel coated textile has significant advantages over conventional textiles. The inherent resistance of these materials to soiling with dirt, oils, or other chemicals will eliminate or minimize the amount of laundering required. This will significantly lower the logistics burden of the military force associated with laundering, particularly on the battlefield. These novel coated textiles can also provide enhanced chemical / biological warfare agent (CBWA) resistance while maintaining breathability. Current CBWA clothing has problems with weight (e.g. activated carbon) or poor breathability (e.g. butyl rubber). Luna has developed this class of low surface energy fabric coatings with excellent water and oil resistance and durability. The coating is based upon a nanometer roughness that achieves the desired lotus effect to produce a surface energy such that water and oils will easily roll off. The technology developed on this program is directly relevant to the Advanced Combat Uniform (ACU) or the Flame Retardant ACU (FR-ACU), the Joint Service Lightweight Integrated Suit Technology (JSLIST) overgarment, and other Department of Defense currently fielded uniforms.