CBRN-Virucidal Gloves with Improved Tactility and Touchscreen Capability

The DOD’s Chemical and Biological Defense (CBD) Program has identified a need for Chemical, Biological, Radioactive, and Nuclear (CBRN) protective gloves that offer enhanced tactility and touch-screen capability along with reduced bulk and thermal fatigue. NanoSonic is currently producing Type III Industrial Rubber Gloves (that pass MIL-DTL-32066A) for DLA’s Nuclear Enterprise Systems Office using additive manufacturing (AM) techniques. We are also optimizing new extruded virucidal elastomeric filaments for large, flexible 3D-printed structures. NanoSonic proposes to investigate innovative AM techniques and materials in combination with conventional seamless dipping for a state-of-the-art CBRN Glove Design with: exterior convolutes, interior flocking, and capacitive touchscreen compatibility (via Metal Rubber). NanoSonic’s butyl-rubber alternative polymer offers enhanced moisture vapor transport and is currently undergoing Soman (GD) and distilled mustard (HD) permeation testing. During Phase I, materials shall be evaluated per CBRN barrier functions, viral penetration, and thermal burden. Tactility and comfort designs shall be optimized with our commercialization partner, Moonprint Solutions, who’s members were on the team that advanced spacesuit glove technology from Apollo to the ISS Gloves used today. We have also teamed with OceanFront 3D-Printing to demonstrate new commercial production techniques with our butyl-rubber alternatives as CBRN touch-screen gloves for Anti-terrorism and First Responders.