LUNA INNOVATIONS INCORPORATED — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: N181-004

Description

Current Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniforms (MCCUU) fabricated with 50:50 nylon:cotton (NYCO) blends are relatively inexpensive, but suffer from significant flammability concerns. Although a flame resistant (FR) version utilizing polyaramid (e.g. Nomex) blends exists, it is significantly more expensive and less durable than the NYCO uniform. There is a desire by the Marine Corps to confer FR properties to all combat uniforms, yet the shift to overseas production of specialty aramid fibers has made this economically impractical. There have been many commercial developments toward the production of less inexpensive FR fabrics with the use of flame retardant additives and coatings. The most cost effective of these FR treatments are based on halogenated chemicals, evolve toxic gases when combusted, and also do not prevent melt/drip properties of synthetic fabrics under flame conditions. Other flame retardant utilize the heavy incorporation of inorganic fillers, which significantly decrease the flexibility and breathability of the fabric and at the necessary high loadings to achieve FR properties. Lunas approach is to apply an inexpensive, lightweight nanocomposite surface treatment that will promote char formation for enhanced flame protection (decreased flame propagation, eliminate melt/drip) while maintaining the desired flexibility and comfort for high user acceptability.