Hazard protective suits made of new, "breathing" material
Chemical protection suits can make the wearer hot, sweaty, and extremely uncomfortable, thus limiting the time such suits can be worn; Drexel University researcher develops better material for protective suits: The new material is a new class of polymer membrane incorporating nanopores filled with an ionic polymer that allows water vapor to pass through
Innovation on the personal protection equipment front: The rubbery material used to make chemical protection suits gives good protection against toxic substances, but can make the wearer hot, sweaty, and extremely uncomfortable. This ultimately limits how long such suits can be worn.
Now Yossef Elabd at Drexel University in Philadelphia has developed a “breathable” material that could do the job instead. The material is a new class of polymer membrane incorporating nanopores filled with an ionic polymer that allows water vapour to pass through — this makes the suit breathable and more comfortable to wear.
If there is a risk of exposure to toxic substances, however, the nanopores can be closed by applying an electric field through the material. It is like an electrically controlled chemical valve that ensures nothing can get through.
The result is a mechanically strong, durable, flexible barrier that is breathable when required, and should make for far more comfortable protective clothing that can be worn for longer.
Read the full switchable protective clothing patent application.
