Breathable Clothing Material for Chemical Agent Protection for the Soldier

This proposal entails the fabrication of selective permeable reverse microemulsion derived elastomeric membranes which are fabricated using rapid prototyping (RP) techniques. Rp offers a significant advantage in that it is capable of forming membraneshaving controlled porosity and microstructural architectures on a three dimensional level rather than the two dimensional level attained by conventional membrane fabrication routes. Furthermore, this work also details the synthesis of new, highflexibility liquid crystalline copolymer membrane materials exhibiting predicted lower permeability than conventional butyl elastomer.The ability to fabricate transparent controlled porosity and selectively permeable membranes will have tremendouscommercial utility. First these materials could find use in chemical process industries as improved gas or liquid purification/separation membranes. An example of this could involve the removal of trace organics from water or water impurities from engineoil. These membranes could also be used as an effective means of separating viruses or bacteria from drinking water. Finally these selectively permeable membranes may find use as bandages for severe burn victims due to its ability to readily allowperspiration evaporation yet prevent dirt contact with the wounds while they heal.