PERMSELECTIVE/SORPTIVE COMPOSITE FABRICS

THIS PROPOSAL DESCRIBES THE DEVELOPMENT OF ADVANCED PERMSELECTIVE/ SORPTIVE FABRICS BASED ON SORBENT-LOADED, PERMSELECTIVE MEMBRANES. A MICROPOROUS POLYMER FILM WITH ASYMMETRIC PORES LOADED WITH SORBENT PARTICLES FORMS THE BASE FOR A THIN, DENSE FILM OF PERMSELECTIVE POLYMER MATERIAL. THE PERMSELECTIVE LAYER IS HIGHLY PERMEABLE TO WATER VAPOR BUT SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCES THE PERMEATION OF OTHER CHEMICAL SPECIES. ANY CHEMICAL AGENT THAT DOES PERMEATE THROUGH THIS LAYER IS REMOVED BY SORBENT IN THE POROUS SUPPORT. CONSEQUENTLY, THE FABRIC CAN BE MADE MUCH THINNER AND LIGHTER THAN CONVENTIONAL FABRICS. THE SELECTIVE PERMEATION OF WATER VAPOR FROM WITHIN THE SUIT FACILITATES THE REMOVAL OF PERSPIRATION VAPOR AND MINIMIZES THE RISK OF HEAT STRESS. THE PHASE I PROGRAM WILL DEMONSTRATE THE FEASIBILITY OF THIS APPROACH, AND DETERMINE THE SUITABILITY OF THE MATERIAL FOR GARMENT FABRICATION. SCALE-UP OF MATERIAL PRODUCTION TO COMMERCIAL WIDTHS AND LENGTHS WILL BE PERFORMED IN PHASE II.