Polar Grip, Phase 4
Abstract
US Naval Special Operations Forces increasingly operate in the frigid waters of the arctic. Of particular concern is the loss of dexterity and numbness in the hands during dives. JHU/APL???s Polar Grip is a tactical dry glove designed to keep hands warm and dry under such conditions. The glove uses three thin layers to improve warmth without adding bulk. The outer fleece traps air against the surface and attenuates infrared radiative losses. The middle layer is an articulated polymer aerogel with a thermal conductivity comparable to still air. This incompressible material is tiled to bend and stretch. It is form-fitting like a wet suit, but insulates like a space shuttle tile regardless of depth. Finally, the inner liner efficiently scavenges moisture from the air and shuttles it to a sponge-like reservoir near the wrist. It is inspired by fog collecting desertbeetles to remove water 4.5x faster than glass or plastic. This phase of the project will focus on the manufacturability of the glove by assessing the capabilities of garment manufacturers and evaluating them for the effective and efficient production in order to transition the glove to production. Additionally, this phase will optimize the manufacturability of the glove for efficient and reproducible manufacturing.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jul 27, 2018
- Source ID
- N000141812748
Entities
People
- Ilana Goldberg
Organizations
- Johns Hopkins University
- Office of Naval Research
- United States Navy