Future soldier clothing

Submitted byVikas Kr. Singh

2013TTZ8288

Requirements of military textiles

Light weight and low bulk

High durability and dimensional stability
Cleanable
Good handle and drape
Low noise
Antistatic
Camouflaged

Camouflage in Military Textiles

The word camouflage comes from the French word camoufler (to disguise) and
was first introduced by the French during World War I
Observation by eye/photography for military surveillance
Devices operate on ultraviolet (UV), Near Infra Red (NIR), Far Infra Red (FIR), radar
wavebands.

Observation and detection should occur at as long a range as possible

It should be a passive process

Ultraviolet waveband

Snow has high reflectance in all visible and UV region

98%-99% reflectance depending upon temperature of snow
Objects easily observable in photography
Titanium dioxide works well in visible band and Barium Sulphate in UV.

Visible waveband

To mimic natural/even artificial backgrounds, not just in terms of colour, but also
patterns, gloss and texture
Textile coloration- functional , NOT aesthetic purposes
Depends on environment, vegetation, season of year etc

Near infrared waveband

Observed by Image intensifiers monoculars, binoculars, or low-light television systems.

Each colour has to meet a specified reflectance value.

Far infrared waveband

Also called Thermal waveband.
At higher temperatures the emittance is at shorter wavelengths.
Amount of emitted radiation is proportional to the fourth power of the absolute
temperature T, and the emissivity h of the material
Requirements
1. Reduce the temperature of the target
2. Reduce the emissivity of the target
Shiny surfaces have poor emmisivity.
Textiles aluminium foil green coat

Pillars of research in soldier uniform

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Camouflage
Handle and transportation.
Ballistic protection.
Communication technology.
Health Hazard management.

Ballistic protection
Use of composite materials and high performance fibres.
Use of nano fibres to enhance inter-yarn friction instead of silica based systems.
Intensive research in field of shear thickening fluids.

Reducing the threat from high energy projectiles from rifles/assault rifles/shattered
granades etc.
Carbon nanotubes based conductive textiles can help in camouflage also.

CNT based thickening fluid coating performance during ballistic test.

Communication Technology
Integrated electronics in textiles.
Helmets and body back used for fitting the equipments
Use of advanced 4G technology (advancement of 3G)

4G helps in
Enhanced vision (friend and foe unit)
Navigation in battlefield
Health parameters display and report in real time.
Planning and executing the strategy.
Foldable screens and displays.

# Communication technology has provided

the soldiers an edge over the other
limitations of battlefield advancements

Foldable OLED displays

Health hazard management

Real time display of body parameters to health team and doctors.
Nervous response based body frames.
Integrated kit for blood coagulation and antiseptic treatment.

References
1. Roland, C. M., et al. "Factors influencing the ballistic impact resistance of elastomercoated metal substrates." Philosophical Magazine 93.5 (2013): 468-477.
2. Wang, Shi-Ming, et al. "High performance visible and near-infrared region
electrochromic smart windows based on the different structures of
polyoxometalates." Electrochimica Acta 113 (2013): 240-247.
3. Nakad, Zahi, et al. "Networking in E-textiles." Computer communications 33.6 (2010):
655-666.
4. Kelly, Fern M., et al. "Polyaniline: Application as solid state electrochromic in a
flexible textile display." Displays (2012).
5. Yin, Xia, Qun Chen, and Ning Pan. "Feasibility of perspiration based infrared
Camouflage." Applied Thermal Engineering 36 (2012): 32-38.
6. Yin, Xia, Qun Chen, and Ning Pan. "A study and a design criterion for multilayerstructure in perspiration based infrared camouflage." Experimental Thermal and Fluid
Science (2013).

7. http://english.pravda.ru/science/tech/11-02-2013/123751-soldiers_future-0/
8. http://interestingengineering.com/super-soldiers-are-about-to-arrive-soon/
9. http://usmilitary.about.com/od/armyweapons/a/futureuniform.htm
10. http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-02/19/mit-smart-fibres
11. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YsbOko3Bg&list=WL5xIY7Ay8BPaP6TttEMZvVdNxEg0Tlo2w

Thank You