Mass Customization Biomanufacturing Process

Spray applied acrylic coatings are proposed as barrier materials for the Air Force MCU-2/P and MBU-19/P gas masks, to provide protection against a broad range of chemical warfare agent (CWA) threats. The MCU-2/P and MBU-19/P are fabricated from siliconeand EPDM rubber, respectively. They afford exceptional comfort, durability and fit. However, these materials offer only limited protection against chemical threats. The acrylic-based coatings will address this shortcoming by providing continuous thinfilm barrier coverage of the rubbers. The coatings are formed by spraying of mixtures of commercially available monomers and then curing using ultraviolet initiators. The coating process will be both rapid and inexpensive. The versatility of the acrylicpolymerization process will allow the coatings to be specifically tailored to optimize compatibility with the substrate rubbers, while maintaining high barrier properties. An investigation will be conducted to assess the viability of acrylate coatings asbarriers for silicon and EPDM rubbers. Samples will be directly compared to standard fluoroelastomer coated materials. Coating adhesion, rubbery modulus, mechanical robustness and strength will be measured. Tests will also be conducted to determine theresistance of these barrier coatings when exposed to a wide range of solvents, chemicals and chemical warfare agents.Many of the hoses used in automotive or industrial applications are made of rubbery materials. These are often used to carry aggressivechemicals or are exposed to harsh chemical environments, which attack or otherwise decompose the rubber. Easily applied, elastomeric coatings would do much to prolong the life of these materials and might eliminate the use of more expensive rubbers insome applications, resulting in substantial cost savings. Almost all rubbers are subject to oxidation and ozone attack, which causes the rubber to crack and fail over time. A mechanically robust barrier coating might prolong the life of rubbers used insuch demanding applications as vibration or shock mounts.