For the US Navy and other services, the helmet systems have been optimized for protection, hearing, and enhanced communications with little consideration for comfort and the need for cooling. The risk of overheating can be uncomfortable, disorienting, and deadly for the warfighter. The proposed NERAMCO smart polyethylene materials solution, SVETEX, offers extreme cooling (through passive cooling and wicking), is stretchable for comfort, be durable made from a sustainable material, be stain resistant, be quick to wash and dry, have anti-bacterial and viral properties, have strength and abrasion resistance. The proposed advanced material cap solution does interfere with operations and will support up to twelve hours of use without human performance degradation. Additionally, the team also plans to adhere to the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) Berry Amendment to have the products sourced and manufactured domestically. With the continued advancement in materials technologies, growing understanding system performance needs, and of sustainability, new solutions can and will be brought to bear for the warfighter. Advanced materials and knitting approaches can provide for stretchability and cooling. This Phase I STTR provides for an opportunity to demonstrate though a proof of concept and testing the novel fabric SVETEXTM, smart polyethylene, materials solutions to support superior and enhanced cooling of the warfighter via a design and fabrication of a cap to be worn under the helmet. The team will also spend time assessing wearable body temperature sensors for integration into the SVETEX cap. The team has one patent issued and another patent pending for polyethylene based fibers and fabrics for cooling.
