HEAT SEALABLE SEWING THREAD

MOST OF THE CP FABRICS UNDER CONSIDERATION BY DOD FOR UNIFORMS CONTAIN A LIQUID BARRIER WHICH IS LAMINATED TO THE UNDERSIDE OF AN OUTER SHELL FABRIC. THIS BARRIER PROVIDES LIQUID WATER AND AGENT RESISTANCE. DURING SEWING, THIS BARRIER BECOMES PERFORATED INVITING PENETRATION BY LIQUID AND VAPOROUS AGENTS AND POSING A HAZARD TO THE SOLDIER. IF THESE PERFORATIONS COULD BE SEALED BY A HOT MELT COATING ON THE THREAD, SUCH PENETRATION COULD BE PREVENTED. THE PURPOSE OF THIS PROPOSED PROGRAM IS TO SCREEN AND EVALUATE COMMERCIALLY AVAILABLE HEAT SEALABLE COATING RESINS FOR NYLON AND POLYESTER THREAD FOR THIS PURPOSE. POLYAMIDE, POLYESTER, POLYURETHANE AND POLYOLEFIN HOT MELT RESINS WILL BE EVALUATED. THE MOST PROMISING WILL BE APPLIED TO THREAD WHICH WILL BE USED TO SEW AND SEAL BARRIER/SHELL FABRIC LAMINATES. SEWN AND SEALED LAMINATES WILL BE SUBJECTED TO HYDROSTATIC PRESSURE TESTING. COATED THREAD WILL ALSO BE CHECKED FOR AGENT AND WATER RESISTANCE, STIFFNESS AND TACKINESS BEFORE AND AFTER HEAT SEALING.