THIN FLEXIBLE AND CHEMICALLY SORPTIVE FILTER FOR NBC PROTECTION

THE DESIGN OF THE CURRENT NBC CANNISTER IS INCOMPATIBLE WITH MISSION RELATED REQUIREMENTS. A LOW-PROFILE/HIGH-EFFICIENCY FILTER, SUCH AS A THIN POROUS FILM OF CHEMICALLY SORPTIVE MATERIAL, COULD IDEALLY FUNCTION AS BOTH THE NBC FILTER AND PROTECTIVE HOOD WITHOUT INTERFERING WITH OTHER EQUIPMENT. THE OBJECTIVE OF THIS EFFORT IS TO EVALUATE A NEW TYPE OF AIR-PERMEABLE HYDROPHOBIC SORPTIVE FILTER SYSTEM FOR RESPIRATORY PROTECTION. USING APPROPRIATE SORBENTS MATERIALS (ULTRA-HIGH SURFACE AREA CARBON BLACKS, ACTIVATED AND CATALYZED CARBONS, OR CHARCOALS) AND BACKINGS (WOVEN OR NONWOVEN CLOTH OR HYDROPHOBIC PERMEABLE MEMBRANE), ELECTRO-CHEM WILL FABRICATE THIN, FLEXIBLE, AND BREATHABLE SORPTIVE FILTERS AND, IN PHASE I EFFORT, DEMONSTRATE THEIR EFFICACY WHEN CHALLENGED WITH LIQUID AND VAPOR AGENTS. PHASE II EFFORTS WILL OPTIMIZE THE FILTER-STRUCTURE AND ESTABLISH ITS EFFICACY AS AN NBC FILTER. THE PROPOSED APPROACH OFFERS THE PROBABILITY OF A SORPTIVE FILTER SYSTEM WITH EXTREME DESIGN VERSATILITY, SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCED WEIGHT, THICKNESS, AND COST, PLUS IMPROVED PERFORMANCE AND EASE OF INTEGRATION WITH OTHER SOLIDER-BORNE EQUIPMENT.