Seamless Knitting for Military Protective Clothing

Recent developments in machinery and flame-resistant (FR) yarn blends provide an opportunity to improve Sailor comfort, reduce heat stress, and maintain protection while reducing manufacturing lead-times, costs, and waste by utilizing novel seamless knitting technologies. The proposed effort will evaluate the feasibility of using 3D knitting with FR yarns and analyze the strengths and weaknesses of seamless knit garments and accessories for Naval applications to identify garments with the greatest benefit of developing a seamless alternative. Following the development of prototype articles a suite of laboratory and field-testing will be conducted to assess the technology against traditional cut and sew techniques for performance and comfort. A successful effort will lead to a commercial base for the technology, providing the Navy with a low cost, highly efficient source for key pieces of knit wear including protective gear.