Breathable Elastomer Membrane for Chemical Agent Protection

Defense against chemical weapons is a critical DoD requirement. An effective defense requires the development of unique clothing systems that are a physical barrier to toxic vapors, liquids, and aerosols. In addition, the protective material must be permeable to water to reduce incapacitating heat stress, and must be lightweight, flexible, and cost effective. High barrier materials currently in use by DOD are effective at blocking chemical and biological weapons but they are not permeable to water vapor, produce dangerous heat stress and are bulky, severely reducing maneuverability and the overall effectiveness of the wearer. TDA Research, Inc. proposes to develop a breathable protective clothing material from polymerizable surfactants and a proprietary elastomeric compound. A thin layer of the compound will form a continuous porous structure with nanometer scale pores large enough to allow water vapor to pass while preventing chemical agents from reaching the wearer.