Chemical and Biological Barrier Materials for Collective Protection Shelters
Abstract
Collective protection shelters have historically been heavy, cumbersome, very expensive, and have carried a high logistic burden. Through the years several advances have been made in barrier materials to improve the protective capabilities of collective protection shelters. These barrier materials generally fall into several categories, including butyl rubbers, chlorinated aliphatics, and fluorinated polymers. The degree of protection these barrier materials provide against the permeation of a "challenge agent" is often overshadowed by several factors, such as thermal stability, flame resistance, ease of decontamination, longevity of the material, leakage points due to closures/seams, and cost. However, when human lives are at stake, the most important factor is the degree of protection the material provides against permeation of a chemical or biological threat. Unfortunately, the exact nature of the threat is often unknown and a particular material may vary in protective properties from one challenge to another. The focus of this paper is to give a brief history of the U.S. Army's chemical and biological barrier materials program for collective protection, as well as the current and future thrust areas of research and development.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA444668
Entities
People
- Kristian L. Donahue