DEVELOPMENT OF LIGHTWEIGHT INSULATED FOOTWEAR
Abstract
The feasibility of producing the first generation of military lightweight insulated footwear using selected materials in a basic pull-on type construction in the weight range of 15-20 ounces per boot was demonstrated. The fabrication of the boots was achieved by two different approaches: (1) by conventional fabrication using the minimum possible number of components, (2) by integrally casting or expanding in place a boot of unified construction. Two prototypes of 50 pairs each were produced on a semi-production basis by conventional fabrication techniques. One prototype used expanded closed-cell polyethylene for upper insulation, the other used expanded closed-cell polyurethane from a millable gum for upper insulation. An additional prototype of 50 pairs was produced by the newly developed integrally casting technique using liquid polyurethane prepolymers. This technique of producing expanded polyurethane insulated footwear offers the greatest potential of meeting the requirements of a lightweight (15-20 ounces per boot), impermeable (water absorption maximum weight 5%), insulated (for service down to -20F) boots for up to two (2) hours of inactivity. The integrally cast expanded polyurethane footwear (18-20 ounces per boot), when new, approaches the insulative performance of the standard (black 40-43 ounces per boot) cold-wet boot, but may have reduced durability and service life.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 1969
- Accession Number
- AD0695643
Entities
People
- Joseph E. Assaf
Organizations
- United States Army Soldier Systems Center