Progress 07/01/18 to 08/31/19

Outputs
Target Audience:Under this Phase I USDA SBIR program, NanoSonic has designed, constructed, and empirically optimized multilayer HybridShield Thermal Array fabric ensembles for use in Wildland firefighter garments. Current PPE and garments, while meeting NFPA 1977 standards, have been criticized for being too restrictive, heavy, and suffocating leading to heat stress, increased discomfort, and loss of situational awareness. This is because these garments have been evaluated and designed to handle the external temperatures and hazards of wildland firefighting but have not considered the physical exertion firefighters experience during their operations and the need to mitigate internal heat loads generated by the body. By optimizing our technology to coat any fabric with our 3D structured, high-temperature nanocomposite elastomer, NanoSonic was able to generate lightweight and superabsorbent fabric blends with high water vapor permeability to create innovative multilayered materials which exceed the NFPA 1977 standards for protective clothing while providing significantly greater flexibility, improved breathability, and reduced weight without sacrificing thermal protection. NanoSonic had the opportunity to talk with wildland firefighters from the USDA Forest Service stationed at the Eastern Divide Ranger District. They were enthusiastic and willing to provide any insight and answer all our questions regarding their likes or any faults of the current garments and welcomed the opportunity to offer suggestions for improvement. Current shirts, such as those offered by CrewBoss, made from traditional Nomex fabric, will get stiff and abrasive during use when introduced to sweat and dirt. This stiffness does not abate until after several washes and will affect mobility and comfort during use. Garments that are available for purchase through the government stores do not contain the latest design changes and technology that many commercially available garments possess making them undesirable. End users are looking for shirts that offer a design which allows for more movement across the shoulders (such as pleating) and have reinforcements in the shoulders, elbows, and other areas of extreme wear. Fabrics that are lighter and absorbent, such as those generated by NanoSonic, don't require a break-in period to become more comfortable and are what firefighters are willing to purchase with their own funds to obtain the desired comfort. The overall reaction to NanoSonic's first-generation prototype shirt was positive with immediate requests for more shirts in different sizes so that several of the firefighters on the force could test out the newer garments. The construction of the second-generation shirts took place at the end of the Phase I efforts. Therefore, NanoSonic was unable to provide the second-generation shirts for review by the Eastern Divide Division wildland firefighters. NanoSonic was successful in contacting and hosting a visit with the local county and city fire department and police chief (Giles county and the city of Pembroke, VA). They were able to compare samples of NanoSonic fabric to that of a commercial wildland firefighter brush shirt. Their response was very positive, and interest was high to participate in future focus groups and field tests of prototype shirts. Phase II efforts would continue relations with various firefighter groups and field comparisons of incumbent shirts vs NanoSonic prototypes. We already have letters of interest and commitment to future focus groups and will continue to capitalize on the interest and expand our networks for a varied test group both locally and nationally. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided? Nothing Reported How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?NanoSonic had the opportunity to talk with wildland firefighters from the USDA Forest Service stationed at the Eastern Divide Ranger District. They were enthusiastic and willing to provide any insight and answer all our questions regarding their likes or any faults of the current garments and welcomed the opportunity to offer suggestions for improvement. Current shirts, such as those offered by CrewBoss, made from traditional Nomex fabric, will get stiff and abrasive during use when introduced to sweat and dirt. This stiffness does not abate until after several washes and will affect mobility and comfort during use. Garments that are available for purchase through the government stores do not contain the latest design changes and technology that many commercially available garments possess making them undesirable. End users are looking for shirts that offer a design which allows for more movement across the shoulders (such as pleating) and have reinforcements in the shoulders, elbows, and other areas of extreme wear. Fabrics that are lighter and absorbent, such as those generated by NanoSonic, don't require a break-in period to become more comfortable and are what firefighters are willing to purchase with their own funds to obtain the desired comfort. The overall reaction to NanoSonic's first-generation prototype shirt was positive with immediate requests for more shirts in different sizes so that several of the firefighters on the force could test out the newer garments. The construction of the second-generation shirts took place at the end of the Phase I efforts. Therefore, NanoSonic was unable to provide the second-generation shirts for review by the Eastern Divide Division wildland firefighters. NanoSonic was successful in contacting and hosting a visit with the local county and city fire department and police chief (Giles county and the city of Pembroke, VA). They were able to compare samples of NanoSonic fabric to that of a commercial wildland firefighter brush shirt. Their response was very positive, and interest was high to participate in future focus groups and field tests of prototype shirts. Phase II efforts would continue relations with various firefighter groups and field comparisons of incumbent shirts vs NanoSonic prototypes. We already have letters of interest and commitment to future focus groups and will continue to capitalize on the interest and expand our networks for a varied test group both locally and nationally. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Nothing Reported

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Through the resources of Phase I of the USDA SBIR program, NanoSonic has developed the technology to coat any fabric with our 3D structured, high-temperature nanocomposite elastomer to generate our HybridShield Thermal Array. This technology was used to generate lightweight and superabsorbent fabric blends with high water vapor permeability to create innovative multilayered materials which exceed the NFPA 1977 standards for protective clothing while providing significantly greater flexibility, improved breathability, and reduced weight without sacrificing thermal protection. These multilayered materials were integrated into wildland firefighting brush shirt prototypes through its application onto 2-way stretch FR and absorbent fabrics. Local wildland firefighters were able to handle and field test various iterations of NanoSonic prototypes and their response was very positive. Comparing the prototype shirts to commercially available Nomex shirts led to high enthusiasm for field trials and amazement that NanoSonic's shirts could provide the same thermal protection from flame due to their light and breathable feel and flexibility. Capitalizing on this enthusiasm and interest, NanoSonic will utilize Phase II SBIR funding as a bridge for realizing Phase III commercial success to provide wildland firefighters with next-generation NFPA certified shirts, pants, and coveralls integrating NanoSonic's HybridShield Thermal Array technology.

Publications