[Defense Commentary] Next-Generation CBRN Materials to Prevent Biochemical Weapons

[Agency for Defense Development]The technology for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) protective materials is bringing significant changes across various industries both domestically and internationally. Currently, CBRN protective clothing primarily consists of an outer layer that blocks CBRN agents and an inner layer containing activated carbon. This inner layer is treated with polyurethane foam on the surface, which reduces porosity and results in low air permeability. Therefore, when wearing protective clothing, body heat accumulates and sweat discharge becomes difficult, potentially causing heat fatigue due to increased internal temperature during work. Heat fatigue can cause symptoms such as general lethargy, malaise, headache, dizziness, vomiting, and shock, leading to decreased operational capability of soldiers. Additionally, activated carbon has limitations in adsorption capacity, and protective clothing containing activated carbon is heavy, causing wearer fatigue, and has low elasticity, which reduces mobility and limits comfort.

In the near future, continuous technological development is underway to overcome various limitations and introduce lightweight, high-performance CBRN protective materials to future battlefields. There is also a trend of technologies developed in the civilian sector being introduced into the defense sector to accelerate change and innovation.

Materials for Conventional Protection and New Concept Protection (Source: Agency for Defense Development)

▲ Hazardous Environment Barrier Fiber Technology: Domestic and International Trends and Levels= Hazardous environment barrier fiber technology includes existing fiber technologies plus nanofiber manufacturing technology, surface treatment technology to improve durability and functionality, filter structure design technology, technology to incorporate functional materials into yarns, fabric pore control technology using pre-processing and weaving/knitting techniques, and conductive fiber manufacturing technology.

In particular, the nanofiber manufacturing technology field is highly competitive. Research and development focus on technologies to manufacture nanofibers using various materials and to produce filter components using nanofibers. Technologies to incorporate functional organic or inorganic substances into yarns include research on polyolefin yarn manufacturing with zinc sulfide additives and fibers applying polyketone. In the weaving/knitting technology field and conductive fiber manufacturing, research is being conducted on technologies to prevent contamination by creating porous surfaces using self-healing materials.

▲ Effective Design of Chemical Protection Function and Lightweight, Breathable Fiber Technology= The Agency for Defense Development (ADD) is developing high-performance, lightweight, self-decontaminating CBRN protective fabric technology in line with domestic and international technological trends. This technology can self-decontaminate chemical agents at room temperature and improve the wearability and breathability of CBRN protective clothing.

The inner layer of CBRN protective clothing using this technology consists of a fiber substrate and a reactive polymer. The polymer can be layered onto the fiber substrate through electrospinning, and chemical agents are decomposed through this composite multilayer structure. The decomposition process involves adsorption of chemical agents onto the polymer/fiber substrate, followed by decomposition via reactive polymer functional groups such as carboxyl (-COOH), amine (-NH2), imine (=NH), and hydroxyl (-OH). Through this process, the decomposition function against chemical agents containing harmful compounds can be enhanced.

▲ The Future of CBRN Protective Clothing= Currently, CBRN protective clothing is designed to filter chemical agents using the adsorption function of activated carbon, but improvements are needed in protection duration, weight, bulkiness, mobility, and comfort. In contrast, self-decontaminating CBRN protective fabric technology goes beyond simple adsorption by activated carbon and enables decomposition of agents through catalytic reactions. Therefore, when utilized as future CBRN protective fibers/materials, it is expected to contribute to enhanced mobility, reduced heat fatigue, and improved survivability of soldiers. Furthermore, it is anticipated to be applied in civilian sectors such as hazardous chemical handling industries for protective suits and equipment against harmful gases, as well as industrial functional fibers.

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