CANBERRA, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Australia's national science agency has revealed a prototype for a nanofiber uniform that will protect soldiers and emergency crews from chemical and biological threats.

The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO) on Tuesday announced it has developed the uniform prototype using an innovative lightweight material that effectively filters out harmful particles while remaining lightweight and comfortable.

"Our nanofiber technology, pioneered by CSIRO scientists, has the potential to significantly improve the level of protection soldiers' uniforms provide and can also be used for non-military applications, including protecting emergency responders and hazmat crews," Marcus Zipper, director of the CSIRO Manufacturing Unit, said in a media release.

The initial phase of the project was funded by the Department of Defense and the successful prototype was coordinated by Melbourne-based NGO DMTC Limited -- formerly known as the Defense Materials Technology Center.

Deepak Ganga, head of Program Management at DMTC, described the prototype as a groundbreaking solution that could deliver a significant leap forward in soldier protection.

NGOs such as RMIT University, Bruck Textiles, and the Defense Science and Technology Group were also involved in the project.

"In rigorous testing, the prototype surpassed all performance targets for air filtration, air permeability, thermal comfort, and chemical protection," CSIRO project lead Yen Truong said.

The team is now seeking funding to progress to the next stage of development, which is expected to involve field testing with the Australian Defense Force. Enditem

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)