The US Army's new warfighter uniforms are being designed to decrease the thermal burden to soldiers while improving protection against chemical agents.
Edgewood Chemical Biological Center researchers are part of a team looking to design a new warfighter uniform, which will decrease thermal burden to the warfighter while maintaining the same or better protection against chemical agents.|Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Andy Yoshimura
The Defense Threat Reduction Agency is leading the effort to design a new combat uniform - additional protection against chemical warfare agents encountered in the field.
Military scientists using standard methods and test new fabrics that will be used in a new setting.
The new uniforms are designed to reduce the thermal load on fighter aircraft while maintaining the same protection or better against chemicals. Different networks can be used in a uniform based on the place where the heat is most common as breast and groin area; but higher protection factors necessary for the place where the fighter is likely to come into contact with an agent, such as the shoulders, elbows or knees.
This effort is part of a joint program of the US Army and Air Force program called Integrated Protection System fabric. It is managed by the US Army Natick Soldier Research Development and Engineering Center, or NSRDEC in Natick, Massachusetts, and USAF Civil Engineering Center. Edgewood Chemical Biological Center, or ECBC, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, supports efforts.
Industry and universities are also partners in the program, including Calgon / Chemviron, Emory University, and Enropics Phasex.
Cooperating with NSRDEC, ECBC permeation and analysis services company has recently tested the absorption of agents in different tissues, which can be used. All tests were needed to meet the requirements of the standard test and evaluation program and the chemical and biological defense programs.
"Natick bring us on board on the basis of our previous work with them and our unique ability to test using live agents and understanding of transport phenomena," said Brian MacIver, ECBC permeation and Analytical Solutions Branch Chief. "The quality of laboratory and testing methods and support our reach-back from experts in the field of toxicology and decontamination of the entire center makes us an ideal partner for this type of program."
To test the network, scientists from the branches have been using testing methods for identifying innovative and effective reaction. The scientists used three testing methods - low volatility agent permeation, water vapor and liquid aerosol group of super-sophisticated test the efficiency of the slope - this being the new capacity was developed specifically for this program.
ECBC researchers recently developed method of infiltration agent low volatility, which would soon become the official method of testing and evaluation by the Ministry of Defence for VX permeation through protective equipment. Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army Test and Evaluation evaluated the test, which allows the evaluation of experimental protection against contaminants that are traditionally difficult to analyze.
The scientists used cell group test liquid aerosol air vapor to evaluate some of the carbon layer and shellfish experimental network for specific agents quantitative measure permeation through the material. Past development efforts, scientists have been able to "characterize" the system and reduce variability in data through more precise control over the variables inherent test or test cell or other device.
The industry has supported the development of the capacity layer "super-loss" specifically for this program. Changes in the method of aerosol vapor liquid air group, excretion advanced super-effective test methods using different applications of the agent in the material. "With this method, we assist in their development NSRDEC fabric that puts [reject] fluid contamination," says Christopher Steinbach, chemist. "Layer reduces permeation agent by the agent to run on the fabric."
To perform the test, the scientists used the same test cell efficiency Advanced Super-shedding, but placed on a tilt table built by researchers at ECBC. The table was tilted to various 45 to 75 degrees so that the solicitor can run a tissue sample. "Switch is a movement of the warfighter, and how uniform will naturally obey their bodies," said Steinbach.
After that, a sample of cells removed from the aircraft after a few minutes to develop growth curves agent concentration on the fabric. Scientists have been following in real time the cells for 24 hours, with 13-26 cells used at one time. "The higher throughput will improve the statistics to evaluate," said Steinbach.
Testing will continue until 2015. All follow-up tests will be carried out on the need to prosecute NSRDEC.
