Eurekalert December 11, 2018
A team of researchers in the US (University of Cincinnati, University of Florida) is working with a polymer called Nafion which has unique structural properties that provide for electrical insulation and gas separation, while also promoting the passage of ions but at the same time, it hinders the transport of gases, like oxygen. The idea is to incorporate the naturally flexible Nafion membrane into a soldier’s clothes to detect chemical agents in the air while preventing them from interacting with the skin. Nafion could react with chemical warfare agents to form benign products when applied to a soldier’s clothing and change color. Further research is required to evaluate this approach to blend Nafion into a fiber that can be woven into a suit…read more.