Environmentally Robust, Fluorine-Free, Elastomeric Barrier Composite for CBRN Protective Ensembles

Through the proposed SBIR program, NanoSonic shall design, fabricate, test, and validate an environmentally robust, fluorine-free elastomeric composite barrier material for class 1 NFPA 1994 certified chemical, biological, radioactive, and nuclear (CBRN) protective ensembles. The material shall be chemically resistant against the liquid and vapor challenge chemicals listed in NFPA 1994 and shall meet the cumulative permeated mass requirements for 15 and 60 minutes. The material shall retain its chemical resistance before and after preconditioning by executing 100 cycles of flexing per ASTM F392 and 10 cycles of abrasion with 600 grit paper per ASTM D4157. Additionally, the novel fluorine-free elastomer shall show 12% linear strain that is reversible and flame resistance (FR) as defined by ASTM F1358. NanoSonic shall develop innovative, non- perfluoroalkyl and non-polyfluoroalkyl substances (non-PFAS) multilayer elastomeric composite materials through copolymerization reactions of the rigid polymer structures with highly flexible polymers utilizing coupling agents and/or flex and stretch-promoting additives. Novel metal organic framework (MOF) technology will be integrated onto the surface of the barrier composite to ensure good chemical resistance. High-stretch, lightweight barrier composites for CBRN protective ensembles will exhibit excellent chemical resistance, flame resistance, and mechanical properties.