Lightweight, Radiation- and Water-Proof, High-Performance Textiles

Workers responsible for decommissioning and deactivating DOE facilities may risk exposition to hazardous contaminants and radionucleotides and suffer heat stress due to inappropriate protective suits. We propose to fabricate light-weight protective suits with excellent waterproof properties based on our patented low-cost, nanostructured high-z nanoclusters (radiation shielding) and high-performance resin materials. Hence, our technology should reduce heat stress on workers and provide safer working conditions. Commercial Applications and Other Benefits: Besides being useful for the DOE, our leadfree materials can be commercialized as safer, light, and more environmentally friendly personal protection gear for hospitals, doctors and dentists (X-rays), as well as analytical laboratories working with various electromagnetic wave-based equipments, representing a colossal market. Space applications would also benefit through equipment brought in space. (Moon tents etc...)