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Researchers at Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, have successfully developed a next-generation uniform prototype that employs nanofibres to safeguard Australian troops from chemical and biological threats.
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The material is a lightweight fabric that effectively filters out harmful particles while remaining lightweight and breathable, keeping the wearer comfortable in extreme temperatures.
The prototype uniform is expected to significantly improve the level of protection for soldiers, emergency responders and hazmat crews.
Dr Marcus Zipper, CSIRO manufacturing research unit director, said this textile innovation was the result of collaboration with industry and research partners, including DMTC.
“Our nanofibre 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,” Dr Zipper said.
“CSIRO research and development in materials science looks to improve how a particular material functions – we work across a broad range of advanced materials including metals, composites, polymers, adsorbents and nanofibres,” Dr Zipper said.
The initial phase of this project was funded by the Department of Defence. The successful nanofibre suit prototype was coordinated by DMTC Limited.
Also involved in supporting the project are Bruck Textiles, the Defence Science and Technology Group and RMIT University.
The head of program management at DMTC, Deepak Ganga, said the new prototype uniform could deliver a significant leap forward in soldier protection, ensuring better comfort and mobility in harsh environments.
“This project demonstrates the power of collaboration. CSIRO’s scientific excellence in nanofibre research has been matched with the expertise of our partners in textiles, defence science, and manufacturing,” Ganga said.
“This has resulted in a groundbreaking solution that offers benefits for Australian troops, for the first responder community and, potentially, for Australia’s alliance partners.”
CSIRO project lead Dr Yen Truong said key to the prototype’s success lies in its innovative nanofibre technology, developed by CSIRO scientists.
“We harnessed the unique properties of nanofibres to create a lightweight fabric that effectively filters out harmful particles while remaining highly breathable,” Truong said.
“In rigorous testing, the prototype surpassed all performance targets for air filtration, air permeability, thermal comfort, and chemical protection.
“This means it effectively filters pollutants from the air, allows for breathability, maintains comfortable temperatures even in extreme conditions, and offers superior protection from hazardous chemicals.”
With DMTC Limited, Dr Truong and team are seeking funding to progress to the next stage of development, which is expected to involve field testing with Australian Defence Force personnel and further refinement of scaled manufacturing processes with industrial partners.
