From Integrated Combat Equipment comes the new Firestorm Combat Shirt. It features a 10″ zippered front as well as inset bicep pockets with zippered openings and velcro patches. The big story here is obviously the fabric. The entire shirt is made from a Berry Compliant 7.5oz Jersey knit unlike other combat shirts that combine knits and wovens. The material is a 71% Modacrylic, 24% FR Rayon, 5% Spandex blend that passes the vertical flame test for FR. Additionally, it has an anti-microbial treatment and a moisture management treatment meaning less stink. Berry compliant and available in any color as long as it’s MultiCam, sizes S-XXL. The fit is not as tight as other combat shirts.
So, to sum up: FR, lightweight, 100% knit, anti-microbial, and Berry Compliant. We have been waiting to write about these until they are actually in stock. Available for order now.
Winter is right around the corner and I/O Bio presents the Contact 1 Pilot Suit to keep you warm and snugly. Nothing feels like a union suit and the Contact 1 Pilot Suit takes the design one step further by adding thumbholes and a hood. Naturally, they have retained the shoot-the-moon drop seat to accommodate those pesky calls of nature. But probably the best feature about the Pilot Suit is that it made from Merino wool and what’s not to love about Merino? It’s naturally comfortable against the skin, hypo-allergenic, no melt no drip, and anti-microbial and anti-bacterial.
TenCate has developed a new version of the FR Defender M fabric which enhances durability. It will be used on new production of the USMC’s Flame Resistant Organizational Gear (FROG) ensemble. Troops in Afghanistan have been particularly hard on their uniforms due to the austere, mountainous environment so the new fabric is a welcome addition to the combat uniform.
Short Bark Industries manufactures the Marine Corps issue IWCS and we were lucky enough to run across one in the Tencate booth at Modern Day Marine. As you can see it has thumbhole cuffs and Super Fabric shoulder caps and is manufactured from FR fabrics. Check it out.
Massif is offering their popular Army Combat Shirt in the newly adopted Operation Enduring Freedom Camouflage Pattern (MultiCam). This is the issue FR garment which includes the padded elbows with Super Fabric. Available in sizes XS – XXL in MultiCam with Tan torso.
ICE Tactical introduces the first of their new Firestorm line. It is a FR Short Sleeve T-Shirt Made from 65% Mod-acrylic, 25% FR Rayon, and 5% Spandex. It also features a permanent wicking treatment for warm weather comfort. This product is Berry Compliant and is offered in Coyote.
DuPont’s Spruance facility in Richmond, Virginia recently hosted SSD for an in depth look at Fire Resistance and Ballistic Protection.
Back in the 60s a new class of fabrics was developed, called Aramids with DuPont at the forefront of their creation. Two fabrics in this class have become the cornerstones of modern Soldier Survivability; Kevlar and Nomex. They provide Ballistic and Fire protection respectively. Kevlar was initially developed by DuPont for tire belts but not put to its current use until the early 70s. Nomex on the other hand was quickly integrated into flying and space suits not long after its creation.
The most compelling portion of the visit was the ThermoMan lab. Composed of 122 sensors, ThermoMan was designed with the assistance of NC State. In addition to the mannequin, there is also a skin burn injury model that takes data collected at the sensors and displays how a thermal threat would equate to an injury to the human body. One interesting aspect of the ThermoMan over other testing methods such as the commonly used vertical flame test is that the ThermoMan tests not only the material’s performance but also the garment’s overall design and construction. This is a critical factor in protecting a wearer from thermal threats. If a flame can get inside a garment then the wearer might as well not be wearing FR at all. Interestingly, the pocket configuration of the issue flight suit is designed to provide additional protection for the wearer by doubling the layers of Nomex in certain key areas. Testing has revealed that most injuries actually occur after the flame threat is removed and the wearer is subjected to residual heat retained by the garment.
We witnessed two burns consisting of a 3 second burn delivering 6 calories. It is intended to replicate a JP4 fire. In the first burn, an issue CWU-27/P US issue flight suit manufactured from Nomex III.
As you can see, minimal damage was sustained by the ThermoMan due to the material and design of the flight suit. it is important to note that while the ThermoMan does a great job predicting injuries, actual injuries may vary due to a wearers body and the fit of the garment. Experience has shown that 1% injury equates to 1 day in the hospital. In this case, the ThermoMan indicated 7% injuries.
In the second, a similar looking flight suit manufactured from 65/35 PolyCotton was subjected to the same threat. PolyCotton, a mixture of 65% Polyester and 35% Cotton is commonly found in Chinese made garments. There IS a place for this fabric, but as you will see in the video, it isn’t in a flame threat environment. Rather, PolyCotton is a cool fabric and very good for use in warm climates. The choice of materials goes back to our recent article concerning knowing your equipment, the threat, and environmental conditions and making an informed choice about which equipment to choose. As you can see the PolyCotton not only caught on fire but it continued to burn even after a direct flame was removed. In this case, the ThermoMan sustained 75% injuries.
During our visit to the ballistics lab we witnessed a demonstration of testing of an armor vest and were introduced to the various apparatus used during testing. Additionally, we were given the opportunity to try out first hand correctional armor which is designed to stop stab and puncture threats. We were amazed at how much differently ballistic and correctional armor reacted to the icepick type of shiv commonly found in correctional facilities. The bottom line is that correctional armor works.
We were fortunate enough to be able to discuss a variety of current Soldier Systems issues with the DuPont team but probably the most important message we got was that DuPont is constantly looking at new ways to use their flagship products. Adaptability is the key as they not work to improve the performance of their materials but also as they seek new ways to use their products as well as combine them with other fibers.
While in years past many vendors would have pushed monolithic solutions to threats, it makes more sense now to develop hybrid solutions that combine multiple fibers into a more robust material. This way, the best characteristics of different materials can be combined into a common solution.
Overall, the meeting was excellent and we left with a greater appreciation of the level of commitment DuPont has to protecting our troops and public safety professionals.
The Army has been investigating new Fire Resistant fabrics for some time now in order to offer more capability for our troops. Milliken has just released their new fabric called ResQ. Check out the details in this associated document.
From Integrated Combat Equipment comes the new Firestorm Combat Shirt. It features a 10″ zippered front as well as inset bicep pockets with zippered openings and velcro patches. The big story here is obviously the fabric. The entire shirt is made from a Berry Compliant 7.5oz Jersey knit unlike other combat shirts that combine knits and wovens. The material is a 71% Modacrylic, 24% FR Rayon, 5% Spandex blend that passes the vertical flame test for FR. Additionally, it has an anti-microbial treatment and a moisture management treatment meaning less stink. Berry compliant and available in any color as long as it’s MultiCam, sizes S-XXL. The fit is not as tight as other combat shirts.
