Home / News / Testing against "live" chemical warfare agents in US by Australia

Testing against "live" chemical warfare agents in US by Australia

10 Sep '12
2 min read

Alexium International Group Limited announced that it has been awarded a $200,000 contract with the US Air Force Research Laboratory (USAFRL) to demonstrate Cleanshell CB treatments for chemical and biological protection applications. This contract follows two other purchase orders by the US Army over the last year and will further validate RST technology for defense applications.

An estimated 200,000 chemical and biological protection suits are purchased annually by the US military for programs such as JPACE, JC3 and JSLIST. Over 4.5 million JSLIST suits “alone” have been sold globally since 1997, representing product sales for JSLIST suits in excess of $800 million.

Alexium's Cleanshell CB repellency treatment is targeted specifically to the treatment of the outershell fabric of CB protection ensembles. Alexium's Cleanshell CB treatment has been optimized to provide excellent water and oil repellency, but has also shown dramatically increased repellency of Chemical Warfare Agent simulants.

This contract was awarded to further demonstrate Cleanshell CB on a range of different fabric types and to develop additional performance capabilities over the ensuing months. The work will include testing against a range of “live” chemicals, such as Soman and Mustard nerve agents, on a number of Cleanshell CB treated fabrics. New reactive particles produced by the Air Force Research Laboratory as part of Alexium's Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with the US Air Force, will also be incorporated in the fabrics for testing, including against airborne chemical warfare agents.

“Alexium is eager to transition the technology to the next stage for defense applications. Whilst the defense sector pathway can include extensive material testing, product testing, certifications and field trials, we see this project as an important catalyst to more rapidly qualify and field our protective treatments – which will position the company for larger procurement opportunities,” said Stefan Susta, COO and Executive Director of Alexium.

This contract in the defense sector follows the recently announced Duro contract in the commercial sector for fire retardant nylon treatments.

Alexium International Group Limited

Leave your Comments

TENCEL SUN wins ECO Responsibility Award
TENCEL SUN wins ECO Responsibility Award
Alexium raises AUD $1.1 mn to further develop FR technology
Alexium raises AUD $1.1 mn to further develop FR technology

Follow us