Military Textile

1. write about the requirement to design a military textile component.

2. Explain incompatibilities in combat clothing system
3. Analyze the mechanism used in military textile to conceal the signature of a military
personnel.
4. explain signature management of military uniform against visual, UV, IR olfactory and
auditory camouflages.
5. Discuss state of the art cold weather management system for combat clothing by
passive fashion.
6. Throw light on passive thermal management system.

ANSWER

write about the requirement to design a military textile component.

General Requirements for Military Protective Textiles

Physical requirements for military textiles Light Weight, low bulk, High durability

Environment requirements Waterproof, water repellent, UV resistant

biodegradable

Camouflage, concealment and deception Visual spectrum, IR, UV

requirements

Requirements for flame, heat and flash protection Flame Retardance, Low toxicity

Specific battlefield hazards Ballistic Fragments, Low Velocity bullets, High

velocity bullets

Economic considerations Easy care, Minimal Cost, Repairable

Explain incompatibilities in combat clothing system

Analyze the mechanism used in military textile to conceal the signature of a military

personnel

Signature Management
Visual In this range attempt is taken to mimic on artificial backgrounds (woodland, desert, arctic,
etc.) not just in terms of color but also patterns, gloss and texture.
uv range barium sulphate (BaSO4) is suitable & can be incorporated in to textile coating which have
reflectance near to 100% and suitable for military cloth in that range for effective
camouflage.
Near Infrared The attribute which is required by camouflage to degrade the threat is related to the
reflectance spectrum of leaves, bark, branches and grasses in the NIR.
Far infra red Objects are detected by heat and energy, they emit or reflect. With human target the
/Thermal thermal signature can be lowered by wearing more insulated clothing, putting covers or
camouflage increasing the external surface using fur or pile structure
 Olfactory Fabrics with antimicrobial properties can be used to reduce the body odor of the soldier.
Auditory It is important to reduce the auditory (sound) signature of the soldier. Unnatural sounds
will give away the presence of a soldier to the enemy.

Discuss state of the art cold weather management system for combat clothing by passive
fashion.

Thermal Management (Cold Environment)-

Insulation is important for a protective clothing system in a cold environment. The objective is to trap
warm air around the body. A fabric with low weight, low volume, and that is highly insulated would be
ideal. US Army uses new Generation III Extended Cold Weather Clothing System (ECWCS) of seven layers.
The layers include:

1) Light-weight moisture wicking undershirt & briefs;

2) mid-weight moisture wicking shirt & briefs;

3) A Polartec® Thermal Pro® fleece jacket;

4) A nylon/spandex wind jacket;

5) A soft shell jacket and trousers

6) Wet weather jacket and trousers; and

7) An insulated loft parka and trousers for extreme cold weather conditions.

The system protects troops from temperature extremes, ranging from -51˚C to 4˚C.

Throw light on passive thermal management system.

Passive Thermal Management (hot and cold environment)

• Hot Environment- Evaporative cooling is a key in a hot environment. The ideal fabric worn next
to the body allows sweat from the body to be wicked to the outside of the fabric where it spreads
rapidly over the surface resulting in evaporative cooling The US military uses Polartec® Power Dry
as a next-to-skin material because it is manufactured using a bi component construction that
 increases wicking of sweat from the skin and moves at least 30% more moisture away from the
skin than single component fabrics.

• Cold Environment-Insulation is important for a protective clothing system in a cold environment.

The objective is to trap warm air around the body. A fabric with low weight, low volume, and that is highly
insulated would be ideal. US Army uses new Generation III Extended Cold Weather Clothing System
(ECWCS) of seven layers. The layers include:

1) Light-weight moisture wicking undershirt & briefs;

2) mid-weight moisture wicking shirt & briefs;

3) A Polartec® Thermal Pro® fleece jacket;

4) A nylon/spandex wind jacket;

5) A soft shell jacket and trousers

6) Wet weather jacket and trousers; and

7) An insulated loft parka and trousers for extreme cold weather conditions.

The system protects troops from temperature extremes, ranging from -51˚C to 4˚C.