This is the second in a series of articles covering WL Gore’s various technologies and their military applications. While we are all familiar with the popular GORE-TEX brand, many do not know that WL Gore has worked extensively with the military since the mid-1980s to develop specific fabrics for various purposes. In this article we will cover the FR Fuel Handler Coverall.
Military fuel handlers face a dirty, dangerous job. Petroleum, oils, and lubricants (POL) are both flammable and corrosive. In cold weather, fuel handlers face increased threat of cold weather injuries due to the lower freezing temperature of fuel. Diesel can remain in its liquid state down to 15 deg F. At these temperatures, spills can exacerbate the danger of cold injuries. That’s not to mention the flame threat associated with POL. To counter these environmental dangers, the Army and Marine Corps set about to develop a new garment for fuel handlers. The answer is the Fuel Handler Coverall which has been adopted by both the US Army and Marine Corps. It features GORE-TEX construction offering a wide variety of attributes. Not only does it integrate penetration-resistant against JP-8, DEET, and POL but it is also flame-resistant (thanks to Nomex technology), anti-microbial, durably waterproof, windproof and breathable and dissipates electrostatic charges. Additionally, it provides this protection for more than 25 wash/dry cycles. Finally, it is available in Coyote as well as UCP and includes n-IR signature reduction technology.
Tags: Gore Military, WL Gore