DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW HEAT-RESISTANT TEXTILE MATERIAL &FOR EMERGENCY EGRESS PARACHUTE SYSTEMS

The Department of the Navy needs to replace the current parachute materials Nwith a high strength, low bulk, energy absorbing, heat resistant, low opening Mshock, and cost effective textile material to enhance the performance of the Jemergency escape parachute systems used in tactical aircraft. In Phase I, OMaterial Innovation, Inc. (MII) proposes to develop a new heat resistant nylon N(polyamide) material that surpasses the requirements of MIL-C-7020H [1]. This Nmaterial will be selected from Nylon 2, Nylon 3, Nylon 4, Nylon 24, Nylon 44, HNylon 46, or their blends. All of these materials have much higher heat Presistivity than current parachute materials (Nylon 6 and Nylon 66). To further Rincrease the heat resistivity of the proposed material, it will be crosslinked by Belectron beam irradiation. Crosslinking makes the nylon infusible Q(nonmeltable), resistant to chemical attack, and increases its tensile strength. SIn Phase I, MII will investigate the modification of existing parachute materials, Kstudy the synthesis and properties of new polyamides, determine an optimum Kformulation, synthesize the optimum formulation, and test its physical and Tmechanical properties, and its heat resistivity to fireballs. In Phase II, MII will Lproduce prototype canopy fabrics for evaluation by the Navy and commercial parachute manufacturers.