Phase Change Materials for Enhanced Warfighter Survivability

The United States Army needs a low-cost, non-toxic, compact solution, utilizing phase change materials (PCMs) for tailorable thermal regulation within Closed-Circuit Self-Contained Breathing Apparatuses (CC-SCBA), to reduce thermal burden, enhance operational longevity, and improve warfighter efficiency when on terrestrial, chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) missions. The current solution uses ice pucks that are placed into the ice cooling unit within the CC-SCBA by the warfighter, and they immediately begin to change phase when exposed to elevated temperatures. The ice cooling unit in CC-SCBA of a Dräger PSS BG4 Plus, which is worn underneath a Level A suit, is intended to provide a comfortable atmosphere for the warfighter. Furthermore, the ice melts after 4 hr of continuous use in environments with 100% humidity and temperatures ranging from 23 °F to 104 °F. Texas Research Institute Austin, Inc., will develop, demonstrate, and validate a passive approach to effectively control the heat generated within a CBRN suit from the CO2 scrubber (soda lime), within a CC-SCBA, by replacing the conventionally used ice pucks with a composite PCM module that will not require any external power or venting. The composite PCMs with be printed via DIW or casted, depending on the required geometry.