The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) has developed a prototype uniform that's designed to protect the wearer from chemical and biological threats.
It was developed collaboratively by CSIRO, DMTC, Bruck Textiles, RMIT University and the Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) and incorporates nanofibre technology.
The nanofibre is used to produce a very lightweight fabric that filters out harmful particles while also remaining breathable.
"We harnessed the unique properties of nanofibres to create a lightweight fabric that effectively filters out harmful particles while remaining highly breathable,” said CSIRO project lead Dr Yen Truong.
“In rigorous testing, the prototype surpassed all performance targets for air filtration, air permeability, thermal comfort, and chemical protection."
In partnership with DMTC, Dr Truong and her team are seeking funding to progress to the next stage of development, which would involve field testing with Defence and work to refine production processes with industrial partners.
“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," said CSIRO Manufacturing Research Unit Director, Dr Marcus Zipper.