Breathable, Non-Fluorine CBRN Resistant Textile Treatments

The government mandates the utilization of Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) protective equipment for military and first responders operating in hazardous environments. These protective ensembles are regulated by NFPA 1994, the "Standard for Protective Ensembles for Hazardous Materials," and categorize protection into five levels, with Class 3 being of significant importance. Class 3 materials must exhibit resistance to permeation by chemical warfare agents and toxic industrial chemicals while maintaining breathability. Furthermore, due to environmental concerns linked to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), these ensemble materials must be free of fluorinated compounds. Currently, there is no known commercially available non-fluorinated material that meets the NFPA Class 3 garment criteria. Luna Labs previously developed a non-fluorinated material demonstrating resistance to the permeation of industrial chemicals, including toluene and 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (simulated mustard gas). During this project, Luna Labs will utilize their unique expertise to adapt this chemistry into a waterborne system that can be directly applied to selected textiles, creating a garment composite that meets the NFPA 1994 CBRN Class 3 protection requirements.