N12A-T012 TITLE: Application of Auxetic Textiles to Military Protective Clothing

TECHNOLOGY AREAS: Materials/Processes

ACQUISITION PROGRAM: Program Manager - Infantry Combat Equipment

OBJECTIVE: Research and development of auxetic textiles for use in military protective clothing (e.g. body armor).

DESCRIPTION: Usually, when a textile is stretched, it becomes longer in the direction in which the load is applied, and narrower in the transverse direction. Auxetic textiles, however, become fatter when stretched and thinner when compressed, exhibiting negative Poisson�s ratio. Several unique properties result from the "negative Poisson�s ratio effect" including increased shear modulus, indentation resistance, fracture toughness, energy absorption, porosity/permeability variation with strain, and synclastic curvature. (Ref 1) Some of the proposed applications that could exploit these properties include helmets, body armor, gloves, padding and other types of protective clothing.

PHASE I: Provide an initial research and development effort that demonstrates scientific merit and capabilities of applying auxetic textiles to military protective clothing.

PHASE II: Laboratory scale specimens fabricated and their textile properties characterized.

PHASE III: Develop conceptual prototypes to demonstrate the suitability of the technology in a field evaluation.

PRIVATE SECTOR COMMERCIAL POTENTIAL/DUAL-USE APPLICATIONS: In addition to the military market, auxetic textiles might be applicable to protective clothing worn by the first responder community and athletes.

REFERENCES:
1. Liu, Yanping and Hong Hu. A review on auxetic structures and polymeric materials. Scientific Research and Essays 2010; 5 (10): 1052-1063.

2. Ugbolue, S.C., Kim, Y.K, Wanre, S.B., Fan Q., Yang, C.L., Olena K., et al. The formation and performance of auxetic textiles. Part I: Theoretical and technical considerations. Journal of the Textile Institute 2010; 101 (7): 660-667.

3. Ugbolue, S.C., Kim, Y.K, Wanre, S.B., Fan Q., Yang, C.L., Olena K., et al. The formation and performance of auxetic textiles. Part II: Geometry and Structural Properties. Journal of the Textile Institute 2011; 102 (5): 424-433.

KEYWORDS: Auxetic; textile; negative; poisson�s; ratio; protective; clothing

Questions may also be submitted through DoD SBIR/STTR SITIS website.