U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command – Soldier Center
5/29/2020 UNCLASSIFIED U.S. ARMY COMBAT CAPABILITIES DEVELOPMENT COMMAND – SOLDIER CENTER Flame Resistant Materials and Soldier Sustainability Margaret Auerbach Textile Technologist Distribution Statement A: Approved for public release. Emerging Materials Development Team Soldier Protection and Survivability Directorate 20 May 2020 UNCLASSIFIED 1 UNCLASSIFIED FLAME RESISTANT MATERIALS AND SOLDIER SUSTAINABILITY Objective To provide an overview on the health and environmental issues associated with the use of inherently flame resistant (FR) or FR treated materials in protective clothing and equipment as it relates to soldier survivability and sustainability. UNCLASSIFIED 2 2 1 5/29/2020 UNCLASSIFIED FLAME RESISTANT MATERIALS AND SOLDIER SUSTAINABILITY FLAME RESISTANT UNIFORMS – IN FACT, ALL MATERIAL CHANGES EVOLVE TO MEET SOLDIERS' NEEDS UNCLASSIFIED 3 3 UNCLASSIFIED FLAME RESISTANT MATERIALS AND SOLDIER SUSTAINABILITY Primary goal of FR materials: Sustainability of the Soldier To provide soldiers with protection against specific threats to prevent burn injury provide additional time to escape from flames/fire https://www.pinterest.com/virgilusa/vietnam-war-photos/ https://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/jul/15/first-photograph-ied-afghanistan-roadside-bomb UNCLASSIFIED 4 4 2 5/29/2020 UNCLASSIFIED FLAME RESISTANT MATERIALS AND SOLDIER SUSTAINABILITY In Vietnam, helicopters were used to - transport troops, supplies and equipment, - aid ground troops with additional firepower - evacuate killed or wounded soldiers In 1968, the Army was reporting an increasing number of deaths or burn injuries as a result of post-crash fires. Soldiers were actually surviving the impact during helicopter crashes but needed more time to get out. Egress times to survive: Large transport planes - 90 seconds Helicopters - less than 17 seconds to make it outside the fireball Auerbach, M., Ramsay, J., D’Angelo, P., Cameron, S.,Proulx, G., Kaplan, J., Grady, M., and Coyne, M.
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