There are some things that war help, but who'da thought it would be self-cleaning underpants? It seems during Desert Storm more soldiers suffered from bacterial infections than bullet holes, so DARPA started looking into textiles with antibacterial properties.
The new technology attaches nanoparticles to clothing fibers using microwaves. Then, chemicals that can repel water, oil and bacteria are directly bound to the nanoparticles. These two elements combine to create a protective coating on the fibers of the material. This coating both kills bacteria, and forces liquids to bead and run off.
The U.S. military spent more than $20 million to develop the fabric, deriving from research originally intended to protect soldiers from biological attack.
Jeff Owens, one of the scientists who worked to develop the process, said "During Desert Storm, most casualties were from bacterial infections -not accidents or friendly fire. We treated underwear for soldiers who tested them for several weeks and found they remained hygienic. They also helped clear up some skin complaints."
Yep, I can't wait for our son to ask for a pair for Christmas.
No comments:
Post a Comment