Immobilized Decontamination Textiles to Reduce Airborne Contamination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing decontamination methods using loose decontamination media, such as the M295 mitt, pose inhalation and contact hazards due to airborne contamination and can damage mechanical and electronic components, especially in windy conditions.
Innovation Solution
A process utilizing a textile with immobilized decontamination media, anchored or adhered to the textile, which allows direct contact with the contaminated surface to absorb chemical warfare agents, minimizing airborne contamination and ensuring effective absorption without shedding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If loose decontamination media is used in immediate decontamination operations, then the decontamination media can rapidly absorb and decompose toxic CW agents, but the loose media becomes airborne and creates inhalation hazards and spreads contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a textile substrate as an intermediary carrier that holds the decontamination media in place during application. The textile acts as a mediator between the loose media and the contaminated surface, allowing the media to contact the surface effectively while preventing airborne dispersion. The textile is applied to the contaminated surface, and the media is adhered to the textile, creating a controlled delivery system that maintains decontamination effectiveness while eliminating the inhalation hazard of loose airborne particles.
2Reliability
If loose decontamination media is applied to contaminated surfaces, then CW agents are effectively removed from the surface, but the media can spread to non-contaminated items and damage mechanical and electronic components
Solution Approach 1:
The textile serves as a controlled intermediary that delivers decontamination media to the contaminated surface while preventing uncontrolled spread. The media is adhered to the textile rather than being loose, so it is applied in a controlled manner only where needed on the contaminated surface, preventing transfer to non-contaminated items and protecting sensitive equipment from damage by loose media.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If decontamination media is adhered to textile, then airborne contamination and spread of toxic chemicals are eliminated, but the textile must maintain flexibility and porosity for chemical absorption
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies that the textile substrate must be porous to allow the decontamination media to be adhered to it while maintaining chemical absorption capability. The porous structure enables the textile to breathe and allow media penetration, ensuring that the adhered media remains accessible to contaminants while the textile itself maintains the necessary porosity for effective decontamination operation.
4Quantity of substance
If sufficient decontamination media is applied to textile, then the textile has capacity to absorb CW agents, but the textile structure may be compromised or shed media
Solution Approach 1:
The patent addresses the balance between media quantity and textile integrity by specifying parameters for the textile substrate, including its porosity, fiber type, and adhesion properties. By optimizing these parameters, the textile can hold sufficient media for effective decontamination while maintaining structural integrity and preventing media shedding during application.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The process effectively removes greater than 90% of chemical warfare agents from external surfaces, reducing inhalation hazards and preventing contamination of non-targeted items, while maintaining functionality of electronic components.
Implementation Method 1
A-200 media is a reactive adsorbent capable of rapidly absorbing toxic CW agents and decomposing all or a portion of the absorbed CW agent
Implementation Method 2
A-200 media is a reactive adsorbent capable of rapidly absorbing toxic CW agents and decomposing all or a portion of the absorbed CW agent
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is directed to the removal of contaminants from a contaminated surface in the field. According to one embodiment, the present disclosure is directed to a textile comprising immobilized contaminant surface removal media for contacting a contaminated surface and removal of contamination. According to a further embodiment, the present disclosure is directed to a hand mitt comprising at least one outward facing textile side comprising immobilized contaminant surface removal media. According to another embodiment, the present disclosure is directed to a process for the removal of contaminants from a surface comprising contacting a contaminated surface with a textile comprising immobilized contaminant surface removal media and thereafter disposing of the textile including removed contaminants.