DE3917336A1 - Protective material for atomic. biological and chemical protection - consists water-and wind-proof layer of crosslinked vinyl] copolymer applied to outside of clothing - Google Patents

Abstract

Composite material (I) for protective clothing (II) consists of smooth, washable, water- and wind-proof layer which is permeable to water vapour (III), applied to the outside of (II). (I) is a polyurethane copolymer at least one component of which has hydrrophillic gps. crosslinked so that the water absorption is not above 30 % pref. below 20% and the prod. can be readily welded, layer (III) has thickness 10-100 (pref. 20-70 microns. USE/ADVANTAGE - (I) is useful for the prodn. of protective clothing esp. for military use to protect against heat (heat stroke, napalm, etc) and against atomic, biological and chemical weapons (ABS protection). The claims include protective clothing against radioactive dust, and ABC-protective clothing in which the textile layer coated with (III) serves as a protection against thermal effects and has a layer of adsorbers behind it. Crosslinking reduces the swelling of the material to 20%, water vapour permeability is also reduced by 30-40 % but this still permits perfectly adequate outward transport of moisture, together with good weldability. The coating is impermeable to fall-out, rain and wind (contrast present NATO protective clothing, in which gusts of wind can force ABC agents into the filter layer and overload it).

Description

It was already clear after the First World War that the soldier needed personal protective equipment against chemical warfare agents. Later there was the biological and nuclear threat against which the ABC protection was developed. In principle, today's NBC protection mostly consists of an overcladding, which contains an inner layer that absorbs the warfare agents and is overlaid on the outside by a layer that repels warfare agents. The latter also offers protection against thermal stress (heat flash, napalm). However, protection against thermal stress is only one aspect of the nuclear threat. With every atomic explosion, radioactive material is thrown up, which falls back to earth as a so-called fall-out (a similar threat - radioactive dust - can also occur in nuclear power plants). Today's protective suits offer no protection against this threat: the radioactive dust nests in the outer, textile layer and can no longer be hosed off. One might think that this could be helped by attaching a smooth, waterproof layer on the outside (e.g. rubber coating). However, the water vapor permeability absolutely necessary for continuous use would be prevented, so that such a solution is out of the question.

For some time, polyester films have been offered, which are sufficient enough hydrophilic copolymers to contain sufficient water to ensure vapor permeability. The mechanism requires thereby a 50-60% swelling upon contact with water.  

Recently a polyurethane film with similar properties offered. Would you wear such materials outside, so each raindrop left a bolder spot at the same time reduced mechanical durability. On this Basis can therefore not be a useful protection against Construct fall-out.

It has now been found that to make a water vapor permeable film to be able to apply on the outside, two requirements must be filled: First, the swelling in water must be vigorous must be reduced, and secondly the connection to the one below lying textile over the entire surface, because only then is the mechani sufficient durability. The latter demands one sufficient weldability.

The reduced swelling can be easily done by a achieve higher networking. At the same time, the What Vapor permeability somewhat reduced. It has shown, that if the swelling is reduced to 20%, the water vapor permeability is reduced by 30-40%, but in particular re for an application on the outside, due to the cheaper Removal of moisture, completely sufficient. On the other hand weldability is also very good despite the higher degree of cross-linking.

This made it possible for the first time to wear protective suits with a smooth, water and windproof, but water vapor permeable To provide outer layer. This has a number of advantages:

• 1. Fall-out cannot penetrate
• 2. Rain protection
• 3. Wind protection.

The wind protection is of particular importance for the ABC protective suit: With today's protective suit most NATO countries can the high air permeability a gust of wind very quickly warfare agent press fe into the filter layer and put unnecessary strain on it.

Claims (5)

1. Composite material for protective suits, characterized in that a smooth, washable, water and windproof, but water vapor permeable layer is applied to the outside. 2. Composite material according to claim 1, characterized in that the water and windproof, water vapor permeable layer is a copolymeric polyurethane, of which at least one compo possesses hydrophilic groups, with a crosslinking, which is such that a water absorption of at most 30%, preferably less than 20%, is possible and a good weldability is guaranteed. 3. Composite material according to claim 1 and / or 2, characterized records that the water and windproof, water vapor transmission layer has a thickness of 10-100 μ, preferably 20 70 µ. 4. Protective suit against radioactive dusts from one material Claim 1 and / or Claim 2. 5. ABC protective suit made of a material according to claim 1 and / or 2, which is the smooth, waterproof and water vapor permeable protection layer against textile offers mixed influences and there is a layer of Ad sorbern located.