Exploration of nanofibrous coated webs for chemical and biological protection

Abstract

Worldwide used Nuclear, Biological and Chemical (NBC) protective clothing has very limited protection against bacteria. Apart from this, NBC clothing has ample scope of improvements of some important features like comfort, better protection against CWA and weight reduction. The purpose of this research work is to establish process of integrating nanofibrous coated web with adsorbent layer of NBC clothing to achieve required biological protection and better chemical protection with reducing its weight. In this study, the developed activated carbon sphere (ACS) laminated structures are integrated with nanofibrous webs of Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA). Design of the PVA integration process with adsorbent layer is strategically decided. PVA nanowebs of different morphological structures and coating densities (0.03-0.61 g/m2) by latest nozzle-less nanospider technology are coated on polypropylene (PP) spun bonded nonwoven fabric. Then coated PP fabric is stitched at the boarder-line with adsorbent layer for formulating the composite layer. The various attributes and functional properties of PVA nanofibrous integrated absorbent layer is characterized by using FESEM, 1,3-Dichloropropane test (stimulant for mustard gas), durability test, pore size, air permeability and water vapour transmission rate. The reported research work showed that by integrating nanofibrous coated web layers into ACS laminated adsorbent layer of NBC clothing, it's now offering various functional properties like additional bacterial filtration and chemical protection at a lighter weight.