Author: Md. Khalilur Rahman Khan
Former Assistant Professor of Bangladesh University of Business and Technology / khalilbutex@gmail.com
CBRN protective clothing plays a critical role in protecting military personnel, emergency responders and other professionals who may be exposed to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear hazards. As threats and operational requirements evolve, protective textiles are also advancing beyond conventional impermeable barriers and activated-carbon-based systems toward lighter, more breathable and multifunctional materials.
Modern CBRN protective clothing must achieve a difficult balance: providing effective protection against hazardous agents while maintaining mobility, breathability, thermal comfort and durability. This challenge has encouraged the development of technologies such as selectively permeable membranes, electrospun nanofibers, functionalized activated carbon fabrics, smart barrier materials and advanced textile composites.
More recently, research has increasingly focused on materials that can do more than simply block or adsorb hazardous substances. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), functional nanofibrous membranes and other reactive textile systems are being investigated for their potential to capture, detect and even detoxify hazardous chemical agents while maintaining the flexibility required for wearable protection.
This article provides an overview of the main materials and technologies used in CBRN protective clothing, explains their protection mechanisms, and examines a range of commercial CBRN protective suits and systems. It also highlights emerging technologies that could influence the next generation of protective textiles.
What is CBRN Protective Clothing
Various terrorist attacks or military confrontations in the past have underlined the need of dealing with chemical (nerve and blister agents), biological (bacterial, viral, and biological toxins), radiological (e.g., gamma rays), or nuclear (CBRN) agents. The use of sarin, a toxic chemical agent, in the Tokyo subway on March 20, 1995 was the first large-scale attack by a terrorist group using a toxic chemical weapon.
In October 2001, another CBRN terrorism incident occurred in the United States of America, when letters containing anthrax powder, a biological agent, were sent to many people in the media and State Administration authorities in various states [1]. As a result, assaults involving CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear) agents are becoming a greater threat for global security.
The acronym CBRN (pronounced C-BORN or C-BURN) is a replacement for the cold war term NBC (nuclear, biological, and chemical), which had replaced the term ABC (atomic, biological, and chemical) that was used in the fifties. The “new” threat of a radioactive weapon (also known as “dirty bombs”) prompted the addition of the R (for radiological) [2]. Four types of agents are shown in figure-1. CBRN has been at the forefront of personal protection equipment for a long time (PPE).
In reality, CBRN personal protective equipment (PPE) is a responder’s or warfighter’s first line of protection against an unknown threat. CBRN protective gear may be intended for: first or later responders to CBRN agents, the military, and citizens in dangerous locations [3]. For CBRN events, there are two major threat levels: hot zone operations and warm zone operations.
The employment of a protective ensemble with a self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) is required in hot zones, which are characterized as being immediately threatening to life and health. Warm Zones are defined as areas that are below IDLH (Immediately dangerous to life and health) levels but nevertheless constitute a serious threat, necessitating the use of a respirator as part of the protective gear [4].
Protective textiles (Protech) are clothing and other fabric-related goods that are primarily employed for their protection performance or practical properties, rather than for their aesthetic or decorative aspects. Clothing materials are now commonly utilized as personal protective equipment, and they are classified as technical or industrial textiles [5]. Unlike in the past, there is now a greater need to produce protective clothing against CBRN dangers. Nuclear disasters and an escalation in terrorist activity throughout the world have stimulated new developments in textile research [6]. Furthermore, today’s protective textiles must protect against a wide range of hazards while also meeting a wide range of functional needs [7].
The protective jumpsuit and facemask are the most common types of personal protective equipment (PPE) [8]. Hazardous material (Hazmat) suits were created to safeguard those who work with dangerous substances. CBRN suits are a more specialized version of these suits. Protective garments, such as CBRN protective equipment, should have several functions to help warfighters and first responders improve their deterrence capacities [6]. Furthermore, a good protective garment should provide protection from risks while maintaining the wearer’s comfort and ability to do vital duties [9]. It’s worth noting that scientists are still looking for the best materials for comprehensive CBRN protective apparel.
Manufacturers of protective clothing and equipment have made significant progress in constructing CBRN protective apparel. In this article, it is attempted to list the successful commercial CBRN protective suits after discussing the common principles of CBRN protection.
![Figure-1. CBRN Agents [10].](https://kohantextilejournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Screen-Shot-2021-10-18-at-09.52.21.jpg)
Latest Developments in CBRN Protective Clothing Technology
Since this article was first published, research into protective clothing more broadly has continued to move toward lighter, more breathable and multifunctional protective systems [41, 42]. While conventional impermeable barriers and activated-carbon-based materials remain important approaches, current research increasingly focuses on materials that can combine protection with improved physiological comfort and greater functionality.
One important direction is the development of multifunctional protective materials capable of performing more than one role within a protective system. Instead of relying exclusively on passive barriers, researchers are exploring materials that can selectively block, adsorb or react with hazardous substances while allowing heat and moisture generated by the wearer to escape.
Another important area is the development of reactive and responsive protective materials. These technologies aim to move protective clothing beyond simply preventing penetration toward systems capable of interacting with hazardous agents. Research involving functional nanofibers, responsive membranes, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and self-healing materials illustrates this broader transition toward more advanced protective textile systems.
At the same time, wearer comfort remains a major engineering challenge. Higher levels of protection can increase thermal burden, garment weight and physiological stress. Consequently, future CBRN protective clothing development is increasingly focused on achieving a better balance between protection, breathability, mobility, durability and overall wearer performance. Active academic programs, such as the Technical University of Liberec’s TexPrevent project (2023-2026) on protective textiles for emergency and crisis scenarios, illustrate the continued research investment in this broader field [43].
The technologies discussed in the following sections illustrate the different approaches being investigated and applied to achieve this balance, from barrier and selectively permeable materials to adsorption systems, nanofiber-based structures and responsive protective technologies.
Mechanisms of CBRN Protection
Equipment can defend against hazardous materials ingress through a variety of techniques. These include [3]:
• Creating an impermeable barrier between the agent and the individual.
• Filtering, adsorbing, or reacting with dangerous materials to remove them
• Keeping contaminated air away from entry points by using overpressure or directional airflow.
Barrier Materials
Physical protection against CBRN agents entails preventing the physiological absorption of the agents [11]. CBRN apparel constructed of impermeable rubber is air and water vapour impermeable. The former Soviet suit, for example, was made of impermeable rubber-coated canvas. The most agent resistant rubbers are fluorinated rubbers (Viton) and halogenated butyl rubbers [3]. Boots and gloves made of butyl rubber and related materials are still common [12].
Polymers with diverse agent-resistant features can be laminated together to give broad-spectrum permeation protection; polymers can also be mixed to achieve unique properties. Another method for creating impermeable barrier materials is to use nanocomposite materials. The addition of additives in nanocomposite materials can change the structure of polymer membranes, reducing the possibility of chemical leakage. Surface modification can also harden barrier materials to penetration.
This type, however, generates a lot of heat quickly and is uncomfortable; they also reduce human performance to a very low level, which is incompatible with most military missions. Rubber suits have no ability for adsorption; they are just impermeable barriers to CBRN dangers. If self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) are employed, the duration of procedures will be limited. Multiple materials, each of which is resistant to a different agent, can be layered together to build impenetrable barriers [3].
Impermeable protective garments was supposed to give enough protection against chemical warfare agents; but, because they are impermeable and also due to perspiration, they provide an unacceptable barrier to the human body’s natural cooling processes. As a result, one of the most important features of a functional protective suit is that it allows for appropriate body cooling, which is a must. The breathing protection materials have been created to solve the difficulty connected with heat stress. Because of their open porosity nature, these materials are air permeable, which aids in the evacuation of perspiration from the protective suit [13].
Selectively Permeable Material
Selectively permeable material allows small molecules to pass through, while blocking bigger toxicant molecules. It has good protective characteristics and can withstand dangerous chemicals such as liquids, gases, aerosols, and solids with a high molecular weight. Furthermore, selectively permeable materials have good moisture permeability (shown in figure-2) and wear comfort, making them a great candidate for permeable protective suits [14].
Although these materials are suitable for protection against biological and radioactive agents, they are not necessarily suitable for total CBRN protection because they are not impervious to chemical or vapor permeation. Microporous and monolithic MVP materials are the two most common types [3]. The Gore company invented super-expanded PTFE film (polytetrafluoroethylene, ePTFE), which is a popular type of microporous barrier.
A PTFE cast film is stretched at a high rate and drawn as a result, without the usual change in its outward dimensions. Millions of small pores form in the structure instead of necking or thinning as it is drawn. The ePTFE material is hydrophobic by nature and has one of the lowest surface energies of any known material. Water vapour, on the other hand, may easily flow through the pores whereas liquid water cannot [15].
The monolithic, considerably less porous structure, however, allows water molecules to diffuse through its elastomeric structure, which is constituted of hydrated entangled polymeric chains. Durability of microporous ePTFE membranes can be increased by laminating them between monolithic MVP layers [3].
Activated Carbon Adsorption Technology
The primary method for protecting against agent vapors is activated carbon. This works well with vapors with a higher molecular weight (larger organic compounds). To guard against liquids, activated carbon and barrier materials (shown in figure 3) are employed, and the clothes are frequently finished with liquid repellent properties.
Activated charcoal is used to make the porous materials, and the chemical warfare agents are absorbed by the charcoal [13]. When such protective clothing is exposed to contaminated air, the toxic gases carried by the flow are absorbed by the single layer of activated carbon material, leaving the cleaned air free to flow through the protective clothing, ensuring sufficient ventilation for the wearer.
The outer textile layer’s primary function is to reduce the velocity of incoming polluted air flow [17]. While activated carbon adsorption material has good protective capabilities, it also has drawbacks such as non-selective adsorption, poor protection against big poisonous liquid droplets, being heavy (a whole garment weighs around 2.5 kg), and difficulty in disposing of contaminated garments. Permeable protective suit materials will no longer rely solely on the present activated carbon adsorption method as new materials and technologies emerge. The development of permeable protective suits will be accelerated by new materials and technologies in the pursuit of high performance, multifunction, lightweight, and comfort.
![Figure-3: Activated carbon adsorption CBRN protective clothing [17].](https://kohantextilejournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Screen-Shot-2021-10-18-at-09.52.47.jpg)
Nanofiber-Based Multifunctional Materials
Multifunctional nanofiber-based materials can be incorporated into protective garment systems. Because of the tiny pore size and large surface area of electro-spun nanofibers, electro spun nanofiber membranes have a high aerosol filtering efficiency, good air permeability, low surface density, and low pressure loss [14].
Electrospun fiber-based protective gear can be lightweight while still providing a wide range of capabilities. Electrospun nanofibers or electrospun nanofibers as one of the components of functionalized fabrics could lead to a new kind of protective apparel.
Self-detoxifying electrospun fabrics are a novel type of textile designed to guard against chemical and biological warfare agents, which are typically used in military and terrorist attacks. Personal protection equipment will perform far better as a result. Functional chemicals including cyclodextrin, iodobenzoic acid, polyoxometalates, peroxides, oximes, and chloramines can boost detoxification performance dramatically. It opens up new possibilities for the development of advanced systems that can guard against chemical and biological threats. Electrospun protective clothing is still in development, and commercial production has some constraints [8, 14, 18-19].
On the other hand, metal oxide nanoparticles, such as MgO, CaO, ZnO, TiO2, Al2 O3, MnO2, Fe2O3, and others, also have limits when used to modify the surface of textile fibers. Because the particles may not stay on the fabric surface permanently, particle aggregation is a significant difficulty when covering the fabric surface. The fabric coated with nanoparticles will lose not only its look, but also its flexibility and wear resistance [19].
Smart Second Skin Technology
DTRA’s Dynamic Multifunctional Materials for a Second Skin (DMMSS) program is researching three alternative ways to developing technologies for switchable membrane systems in order to address the inadequacies of traditional PPE. These membranes will close their pores in reaction to chemical substances, but they will remain open when they are not contacted. The new outfits are expected to be deployed in the field in under ten years [20].
The first strategy includes embedding aligned carbon nanotubes (CNT) in membranes. A CNT membrane functionalized with chemical-threat-responsive polymers has two main components: a highly breathable CNT membrane that provides an effective barrier against biological threats; and a thin responsive functional layer grafted or coated on the membrane surface that either closes the vertically aligned CNT pore entrance upon touch with a chemical warfare agent or self-exfoliates in the region of pollutants after the threat has been neutralized. Closing the pore entrance or shedding the contaminated surface layer would cause the fabric to go into a protective mode.
Even though the CNT pores are only a few nm wide and the overall porosity is less than 5.5 percent, these membranes produce water vapor transfer rates that exceed those of commercial breathable fabrics. In both safe and contaminated environment configurations of the polymer chains, the CNT pores are tiny enough to screen out biological hazards [21]. Because of their unique intrinsic cavity structure, mono dispersed nano channels, and transport properties, carbon nanotubes can effectively accelerate the transfer of gas or liquid molecules,, which bring hope for the fabrication of ultralight and super-breathable protective clothing as thin as a cicada’s wings in the future [14].
The second way entails creating an an enzyme embedded copolymer membrane. These membranes expand and close when exposed to chemical agents as a result of an enzyme reaction with the chemical agent, safeguarding warfighters wearing the garment.
A third method involves coating existing fabrics with electrically conductive elements. When subjected to a little electrical current, this coating reacts by sealing the cloth against penetration. In a matter of seconds, the pores close, providing a protective barrier that can last up to 24 hours. A different current can either open the membrane or keep it closed. On carbonized fabrics, this coating has been demonstrated [20].
Metal–Organic Framework (MOF) Materials
Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs), which are porous crystalline materials with a wide chemical and structural variety, have sparked academic and industrial attention. Metal organic frameworks are porous crystalline solids made up of metal ion units or clusters linked together by bitopic/polytopic organic linkers and held together by strong coordination bonds. Because of their excellent adsorption, reactivity, and catalytic capacity toward CWAs, MOFs have been identified as one of the most important materials for detecting and detoxifying Chemical warfare agents (CWAs) [22, 23].
Micro-capsule Self-healing Techniques
Micro-capsule self-healing mechanisms aid in the establishment of a good physical barrier to lethal chemical agents, bacteria, and viruses, ensuring that humans are protected in a timely and consistent manner [14]. The technology combines novel gap-closing techniques with healing micro-capsules that activate when ripped, allowing cuts and punctures to be repaired. The self-healing layer contains reactive compounds that neutralize harmful threats, such as lethal chemicals, while also reforming the physical barrier against bacteria and viruses [24].
Personalized Protective Biosystem (PPB)
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency’s (DARPA) personalized protective biosystem (PPB) program will integrate novel, lightweight protective materials with innovative prophylactic medical technologies to reduce chemical and biological dangers at vulnerable tissue barriers, such as the eyes, skin, and lungs. It is divided into two Technical Zones (TAs): TA1 – reactive materials that restrict CB agents from entering the body; and TA2 – a programmable barrier countermeasure (BCM) that neutralizes 10 CB agents at vulnerable entrance locations (i.e., skin, airway, ocular).
The design should also reduce the donning process to less than 10 minutes. Above all, the program will use molecular components or commensal organisms at key places of susceptibility to relieve the user of the burden of protective equipment. Successful PPB technologies have the potential to revolutionize how the military and public health respond to unforeseen threats [25, 26].
GORE® CHEMPAK® Fabric Technology
Toxic industrial chemicals, chemical warfare agents, infectious illnesses, synthetic opioids, and biological and radiological particle threats are all protected by Gore® Chempak® fabrics. Gore® Chempak® selectively permeable fabric and Gore® Chempak® ultra barrier fabric are two material technologies that are created to fulfill the needs of their desired final [27].
i) Gore® Chempak® Selectively Permeable Fabric
The industry’s first breathable perimeter-response (warm zone) garments are made of Gore® Chempak® selectively permeable materials. This fabric offers great levels of protection while putting the person under minimal physiological stress. Gore® Chempak® selectively permeable fabric is approved to NFPA 1994, Classes 3/3R and 4/4R, as well as NFPA 1992 Standards, for superior protection in warm zone activities against NFPA-identified threats as well as extra toxic industrial chemicals (TICs) and chemical warfare agents (CWAs).
Gore’s barrier allows sweat vapor to exit through the suit while retaining a minimum of four hours of permeation protection, reducing heat stress. The form-fitting garment is meant to allow the responder to move more quickly and effectively in hazardous environments, confined areas, and rubble piles, with increased padding at crucial stress points for enhanced cut and puncture protection. It’s excellent for defense, emergency, or law enforcement workers in high-stress, fast-paced operations that aren’t IDLH (immediately harmful to life and health) [27].
ii) Gore® Chempak® Ultra Barrier Fabric
PPE clothing made of Gore® chempak® ultra barrier fabric are ideal for tactically challenging operations including search and rescue, technical rescue, SWAT and high-risk entry, hazardous material emergency, WMD or terrorist incident, containment, and decontamination. Gore® Chempak® ultra barrier fabric is made up of three layers: an impermeable high-strength fluoropolymer barrier film, two flame- and melt-resistant textile layers, and a three-layer construction.
The outer layer is a high-strength cloth that withstand cuts, tears, and punctures for additional longevity and abrasion resistance. While enabling extensive chemical protection, this lightweight and flexible multi-layer fabrication improves garment fit and comfort. Gore® Chempak® ultra barrier fabric is approved to satisfy both the NFPA 1994 standard on protective ensembles for first responders to CBRN terrorism situations, Class 2, and the NFPA 1992 standard on liquid splash-protection ensembles and garments for hazardous materials incidents [28].
Saratoga® CBRN protective clothing
SaratogaTM, a proven technology established by Blücher GmbH in Germany, provides adsorption capacity and the highest possible comfort in all climatic situations. SaratogaTM is made up of spherical activated carbon absorbers attached to a textile carrier fabric to provide the finest possible flow conditions for body heat dissipation. Under any climatic situations, the two layers and air gap ensure comfort and efficient heat management of the body.
Extra security against chemical warfare chemicals in liquid, vapor, and aerosol forms is provided by activated carbon. SaratogaTM is a proprietary composite filter fabric made up of highly activated and rigid carbon spheres attached to a textile carrier. It provides a minimum of 24 hours of protection and at least 45 days of use under battlefield circumstances, including many field washings, with a carbon density of 180 g/m2 to 220 g/m2, the highest on the market. Over 85% of the sphere’s outside surface is fully accessible to hazardous gases, resulting in a fast and effective adsorption.
Sweat impulses are captured and continually degraded thanks to the SaratogaTM spherical absorbers’ pore structure and hydrophilic qualities. This results in a low increase of humidity and low ambient humidity in the skin’s immediate vicinity. SaratogaTM is comfortable to wear as a result of this. SaratogaTM filter materials’ great flexibility causes a “pump effect,” which improves the microclimate by allowing for rapid air exchange between the inner and outer textile layers. The garments are also very air permeable, which reduces sweating and heat stress [29].
Commercial CBRN Protective Suits
A range of CBRN protective suits has been developed for military personnel, emergency responders, law enforcement teams and professionals working in hazardous environments. These systems use different protective approaches, including activated-carbon adsorption, selectively permeable membranes and impermeable barrier technologies.
The level of protection, breathability, durability and mobility varies considerably depending on the materials used and the intended operational environment. The following examples illustrate some of the technologies that have been applied in commercial and military CBRN protective clothing.
1. Tex-Shield JSLIST Suits
The Joint Service Lightweight Integrated Suit Technology (JSLIST) is a two-piece protective system that can be worn as an overgarment or over underwear. It uses a liquid-resistant nylon/cotton outer shell combined with a SARATOGA® activated-carbon spherical liner.
Instead of the bulk charcoal used in earlier protective garments, the system incorporates adsorbent carbon spheres within the textile structure. According to published technical information, JSLIST garments can maintain protective performance for extended periods after opening and can withstand several washing cycles [12, 30].
2. Blauer Homeland Defender® Suits
Blauer’s Homeland Defender® range was developed for tactical, rescue and decontamination operations. The garments combine protective barrier technologies with designs intended to improve mobility and reduce the need for chemical tape [31].
The Multi-Threat ensemble uses Gore® Chempak® ultra-barrier fabric and, when combined with approved respiratory protection, is designed for environments involving chemical warfare agents (CWAs) and toxic industrial chemicals (TICs). The barrier is combined with Nomex® textile layers to provide additional thermal and mechanical protection [28, 32].
The XRT Response Suit uses Gore® Chempak® selectively permeable fabric. It is designed to provide CBRN protection while reducing physiological burden compared with fully impermeable systems. Its one-piece construction incorporates glove and foot protection and eliminates the need for chemical taping [32].
Blauer’s BRN-94® Ensemble is designed primarily for protection against biological and radiological particulate hazards. It uses Gore® Crosstech® fabric and is designed as a self-sealing protective system that does not require chemical tape [32].
3. Lion Group CBRN Suits
Lion Group has developed protective garments for different levels of CBRN response.
The ERS (Extended Response Suit) is a one-piece, front-entry garment constructed from lightweight Gore® Chempak® selectively permeable fabric. It is intended primarily for warm-zone operations involving lower concentrations of vapor and liquid hazards and has been associated with NFPA 1994 Class 3 and NFPA 1992 requirements [33].
The MT94™ Multi-Threat CBRN Garment uses Gore® Chempak® ultra-barrier technology, incorporating a thin PTFE barrier between durable Nomex® textile layers. The system is designed for higher-risk operations involving chemical, biological and other hazardous substances [34].
4. CBRN MK-V Suit
The CBRN MK-V suit uses a composite textile structure incorporating an outer shell with flame-retardant, water-repellent, oil-repellent and antistatic properties, together with an activated-carbon-sphere-coated filter fabric.
The garment is designed to work as part of a complete protective ensemble incorporating compatible boots, gloves and respiratory equipment. The system has been accepted for use by the Indian Army [35].
5. OPEC CBRNe Protective Suits
OPEC CBRNe has developed several protective systems, including the Kestrel, Falcon, Phoenix and Cetan CBRN suits. These garments are designed for applications requiring protection against chemical warfare agents and other hazardous substances.
The Kestrel was selected by Australian Defence in 2019, while the two-piece Cetan CBRN Protection Suit was developed to provide chemical protection for military personnel and was designed to meet NATO AEP-38 protection requirements.
6. Survitec CBRN Protective Systems
Survitec has developed protective clothing incorporating Gore® Chempak® selectively permeable membrane technology.
The Sonics Bio Skin is designed to provide chemical and biological protection while reducing thermal burden. Related protective systems have also used Gore® CPCSU-2 technology to provide a lighter alternative to conventional carbon-based protective garments while maintaining protection against chemical vapors, toxic industrial chemicals, aerosolized particles and certain biological hazards [37].
7. Demron™ Protective Technology
Demron™, developed by Radiation Shield Technologies (RST), is a nanocomposite material designed for multi-hazard protective applications. The material has been incorporated into protective suits and other products intended for radiological, nuclear and related hazardous environments.
Its thermally conductive properties are designed to improve heat dissipation compared with conventional impermeable protective materials, helping reduce the thermal burden experienced by the wearer [38].
8. Polycombi® CBRN Protective Suit
The Polycombi® system developed by Ouvry is a permeable protective coverall designed for protection against CBRN agents in liquid, vapor and aerosol forms.
According to published technical information, the garment can provide up to 12 hours of protection against specified NRBC threats [19].
9. Lakeland ChemMax® 3
Lakeland’s ChemMax® 3 uses a multilayer barrier construction designed to provide protection against a range of hazardous chemicals while maintaining garment flexibility.
Its lightweight construction and relatively quick donning make it suitable for applications where personnel require chemical protection without the weight and complexity associated with some reusable protective systems.
10. Kappler DuraChem® 500
Kappler’s DuraChem® 500 is designed for both general hazardous-material response and CBRN-related operations. It is certified to NFPA 1990 (1994), Class 1 and Class 2, and provides tactical CBRN protection in a non-encapsulating configuration [39].
The system is designed around a multi-use, single-exposure concept, providing an alternative to more complex reusable protective suits.
11. Zorflex® Activated Carbon Cloth
Unlike the complete protective suits described above, Zorflex® is a protective textile material rather than a CBRN suit itself. Developed using activated carbon cloth technology, it can be incorporated into protective garments, filtration systems and decontamination products.
Its textile structure provides a high surface area for adsorption and can be used as part of systems designed to protect against chemical and other hazardous agents [40].
Frequently Asked Questions About CBRN Protective Clothing
What Does CBRN Stand For?
CBRN stands for Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear. The term refers to hazardous agents that can pose serious risks to military personnel, emergency responders and people operating in contaminated environments.
What Is CBRN Protective Clothing?
CBRN protective clothing is specialized personal protective equipment (PPE) designed to reduce exposure to chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear hazards. Depending on the application and threat level, protective systems may include suits, gloves, boots, respirators and self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA).
How Does CBRN Protective Clothing Work?
CBRN protective clothing can use several protection mechanisms. These include creating an impermeable barrier between the wearer and hazardous agents, filtering or adsorbing dangerous substances, reacting with contaminants, or using controlled airflow to prevent contaminated air from entering the protective system.
What Materials Are Used in CBRN Protective Clothing?
CBRN protective clothing can incorporate impermeable polymer barriers, selectively permeable membranes, activated carbon materials, nanofiber-based membranes and multifunctional textile structures. More advanced research also explores technologies such as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), responsive membranes and self-healing materials.
Why Is Activated Carbon Used in CBRN Protective Clothing?
Activated carbon is widely used because of its ability to adsorb hazardous vapors. In protective garments, activated carbon can be incorporated into textile layers to capture certain chemical agents while allowing the protective system to remain more breathable than a completely impermeable barrier.
What Is the Difference Between Impermeable and Permeable CBRN Suits?
Impermeable suits create a physical barrier that prevents hazardous substances from passing through the material, but they can increase heat stress and reduce wearer comfort. Permeable or selectively permeable systems are designed to provide protection while allowing greater transfer of air or water vapor, helping improve physiological comfort.
What Are the Main Challenges in Developing CBRN Protective Clothing?
One of the main challenges is balancing protection and wearer comfort. Protective clothing must provide an effective barrier against hazardous agents while remaining lightweight, breathable, flexible and durable enough for the wearer to perform necessary tasks.
References
1. Magalhães M.J., de Magalhães S.T., Revett K., Jahankhani H. (2016) Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Protective Clothing – A Review. In: Jahankhani H. et al. (eds) Global Security, Safety and Sustainability – The Security Challenges of the Connected World. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-51064-4_26
2. http://www.nitratextile.org/coeprotech/web/content/pdf/updates-2012.pdf
3. Eva F. Gudgin Dickson, Personal protective equipment for chemical, biological, and radiological hazards: Design, Evaluation, and Selection, 2013 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc. New Jersey.
4. https://www.ilerisavunma.com/en/cbrn-protection/multi-threat-cbrn-garment
5. Bhuiyan, M. A. R., Wang, L., Shaid, A., Shanks, R. A., & Ding, J. (2018). Advances and applications of chemical protective clothing system. Journal of Industrial Textiles. doi:10.1177/1528083718779426
6. Roshan Paul, Functional Finishes for Textiles: Improving Comfort, Performance and Protection, Woodhead Publishing, Cambridge, UK, Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Ltd.
7. Degenstein LM, Sameoto D, Hogan JD, Asad A, Dolez PI. Smart Textiles for Visible and IR Camouflage Application: State-of-the-Art and Microfabrication Path Forward. Micromachines. 2021; 12(7):773. https://doi.org/10.3390/mi12070773
8. Introduction to Electrospun Fibers for Defence Technology, November 2015, Electrospin Tech, retrieved from http://electrospintech.com/defenceintro.html#.YWU9W9pBzIX
9. Bhattacharjee, S., Joshi, R., Chughtai, A. A., & Macintyre, C. R. (2019). Graphene Modified Multifunctional Personal Protective Clothing. Advanced Materials Interfaces, doi:10.1002/admi.201900622
10. https://www.hsdl.org/?view&did=477641
11. STO technical report, Integration of CBRN Physical Protective Measures to Lessen the Burden on Personnel, June 2018, Copyright © STO/NATO 2018. https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/AD1062099.pdf
12. Dan Kaszeta, CBRN Protective Clothing – Advances in Textiles and Technologies, October 2021, European Security & Defence , https://euro-sd.com/
13. Boopathi, M., Singh, B., & Vijayaraghavan, R. (2008). A Review on NBC Body Protective Clothing. The Open Textile Journal, 1, 1-8.
14. Zhao, X. & Liu, B.. (2018). Permeable Protective Suit: Status Quo and Latest Research Progress. Cailiao Daobao/Materials Review. 32. 3083-3089 and 3098. 10.11896/j.issn.1005-023X.2018.17.022.
15. R. A. Chapman, Smart textiles for protection, 2013, Woodhead Publishing Limited, pp.60.
16. Schreuder-Gibson, H.L., Truong, Q., Walker, J.E. et al. Chemical and Biological Protection and Detection in Fabrics for Protective Clothing. MRS Bulletin 28, 574–578 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1557/mrs2003.168
17. Davide Ambesi, Flow, heat and mass transfer through CBRN protective clothing, 2013.
18. Petkov, Plamen, Achour, Mohammed Essaid, Popov, Cyril (Eds.), Nanoscience and Nanotechnology in Security and Protection against CBRN Threats, © Springer Nature B.V. 2020.
19. https://www.ouvry.com
20. A second skin for the first layer of defense,
https://www.dvidshub.net/news/284620/second-skin-first-layer-defense
21. Bui, N., Meshot, E. R., et al. (2016). Ultrabreathable and Protective Membranes with Sub-5 nm Carbon Nanotube Pores. Advanced Materials, 28(28), 5871–5877. doi:10.1002/adma.201600740
22. Ma K., Idrees K., et al. (2020). Fiber Composites of Metal–Organic Frameworks. Chemistry of Materials. 32. 10.1021/acs.chemmater.0c02379.
23. Selva B., Jayalatha A., et al. (2021). Metal Organic Framework Functionalized Textiles as Protective Clothing for the Detection and Detoxification of Chemical Warfare Agents—A Review. Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research. 60. 10.1021/acs.iecr.0c06096.
24. Jane Benson, U.S. Army Investigates Self-Healing Protective Clothing, December 1, 2015, https://www.designworldonline.com/u-s-army-investigates-self-healing-protective-clothing/
25. https://na.eventscloud.com/file_uploads/13291415808e0dc92d4ddb38c79d2a39_DARPA-SN-20-10.pdf
26. https://www.darpa.mil/program/personalized-protective-biosystem
27. https://www.goretexprofessional.com/technologies/gore-chempak
28. https://www.goretexprofessional.com/sites/tof/files/2020-07/GORE%20CHEMPAK%20products%20-%20Multi-threat%20suit_expanded%20info.pdf
29. Karkalic R., Maslak V., et al. (2015). Application of permeable materials for CBRN protective equipment. Zastita materijala. 56. 239-242. 10.5937/ZasMat1502239K
30. Gonzalez, Julio & Potter, Adam. (2020). Quantitative Comparison of two Chemical Biological Protective Suits: The Joint Service Lightweight Integrated Suit Technology (JSLIST) and the Tactical Advanced Threat Protective Ensemble (TATPE). 10.13140/RG.2.2.16556.82562.
31. https://www.blauer.com/chembio
32. Blauer-Homeland-Defender-Brochure-2019 Available from https://www.blauer.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Blauer-Homeland-Defender-Brochure-2019.pdf
33. https://www.fire-end.com/image/catalog/PDF%20Specs/Lion-ERS-Suit.pdf
34. https://www.rotemsafety.co.il/sites/default/files/LION%20MTcombo.pdf
35. https://www.drdo.gov.in/sites/default/files/inline-files/DEBEL-8.pdf
36. https://opeccbrne.com/
37. https://survitecgroup.com/media/344584/s_sonics-cbrn_brochure.pdf
38. https://radshield.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/RST-Demron-Catalog-Dec-2020.pdf
39. Kappler, Inc. DuraChem® 500 Product Page. https://www.kappler.com/durachem-500/
40. http://www.neuni-materio.com/wp-content/uploads/media-files/11/11759-chemviron.pdf
41. Kuklane, K.; Dąbrowska, A. (2024). Advances in Protective Clothing Research Meeting the Challenges in the Changing World. Applied Sciences, 14(17), 8087. https://doi.org/10.3390/app14178087
42. Venkataraman, D.; Shabani, E.; Park, J.H. (2023). Advancement of Nonwoven Fabrics in Personal Protective Equipment. Materials, 16(11), 3964. https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16113964
43. Technical University of Liberec, Faculty of Textile Engineering. Current Research Projects (including TexPrevent, 2023-2026, on protective textiles for emergency and crisis scenarios). https://www.ft.tul.cz/en/research/projects/projects
