Colorado scientists invent breathable rubber

In the run-up to the Iraq war there was a lot of concern that Saddam Hussein might use chemical weapons against our servicemen and women on the battlefield. One of the big problems to keep in mind while combating chemical weapons is that there aren't really any good options for what to wear (a bigger concern than you might think). One option is to don a butyl rubber suit, which keeps nearly everything bad out, but keeps the soldier's sweat in. Unfortunately, trapping heat has some nasty consequences, which can lead to heat stroke or in the worst scenario, death. Scientists at the University of Colorado have just devised a solution to make butyl rubber breathable by combining it with liquid crystals to create 1.2 nanometer-wide pores, which allow sweat to go out, but prevent larger, nastier stuff from getting in. The researchers also add that there may be a way to use this same technology to get that pesky NaCl out of salt water. From the little that we know about textiles science, this sounds like a beefed up version of Gore-Tex -- that reminds us, we'd like our breathable rubber suits in black, please (it'll go with the most of our gadgets that way).

[Via Scientific American]

[Maxx @ Dec 1st 2006 12:04AM]

I can assure you from personal military training in NBC (Nuclear, Biological, Chemical) that the current suits and future ones will only protect you from the most benign of the chemicals like Tear gas. Most of the nasty ones eat right through those suits in 20-30 minutes. So that means that if you do not have access to a complete field decon unit/station almost directly after you are exposed you are toast. They are basicly designed to keep you in the fight for a bit longer not to save you.

[Alcaron @ Dec 1st 2006 12:19AM]

Hmmm, maybe this is semantics, but without a suit you are toast. So...doesn't that mean that the suit saves you? And what the hell, "eat right through the suit"...are you getting hosed down with corrosive chemicals?

I wouldn't expect to be able to take an acid bath in one of these suits, no. But seriously...eat right through the suit?

And regardless, if its biological you can't take the suit off without a decon anyway, I mean lets say you get hosed down with, I dunno, anthrax for giggles...you can't just go "WHEW! ok, I've survived that initial dusting so, no matter the fact that I'm covered in Anthrax, I can safely pop out of my suit.

Once whatever it is the suit is saving you from is on, um, the suit...you aren't getting, safely, out of that suit without decon.

And if you are talking about a small enough quantity that getting out of the suit IS safe without decon, I highly doubt its going to eat right through your suit. Again, not that it would matter. If you could safely get out of the suit without decon then why couldn't you just take it off before the suit melts?

It doesn't make any sense.

I don't think anyone REALLY expects you to have a happy ending without a decon, but without that suit, immediate or no, decon isn't going to save your ass.

[Maxx @ Dec 1st 2006 2:46AM]

I am refering only to chemical agents of the Blood type which are the most nasty of them. When I say eat through your suit I mean that when a chemical agent is in the air it settles on your suit and begins to eat it. It need not even be the size of a droplet. An extreamly small amount will eat through your suit. As soon as it gets through it touches your skin and enters your blood stream. You die very soon after in a not nice manner. They are very rarely used because they are so dangerous that they have just as much chance of killing the person trying to use it as their enemy.

[I LOVE THE CAPS LOCK KEY @ Dec 1st 2006 1:40AM]

"Colorado have just devised a solution to make butyl rubber breathable by combining it with liquid crystals to create 1.2 nanometer-wide pores,"

As an evil scientist, I will start my work on a .9 nanometer chemical weapon asap. Muahaha!

[PeteC @ Dec 1st 2006 9:38AM]

If you compare the size of molecules with 1.2 nm you'll quickly find that will exclude almost everything you're worried about. 1.2 nm is small enough for water, and maybe methanol and a few other small molecules but NOT large enough to fit any bigger molecules through.

[mark @ Dec 1st 2006 3:11AM]

now if they only made it tight (like my other rubber outfits) I can wear them under my work clothes (without the face mask).

[NeoteriX @ Dec 1st 2006 3:21AM]

Did anyone else read the headline and think: Why does Engadget have an article about condoms?

[Matt Hadder @ Dec 1st 2006 3:51AM]

Haha! NBC suits... oh joy.
I remember the first time my platoon was exposed to tear gas with them on; myself and 3/4ths of my buddies were burning everywhere we had sweat on our bodies (think about it...) and then even our lungs.

I wouldn't trust them to save me from the perfume department at WalMart.

[PeteC @ Dec 1st 2006 9:35AM]

Well done Engadget! That's the first time I've ever read anything on here whilst I should have been working and actually got a great idea for research in my own field!!! Almost justifies the hours I've spent on here when I should have been in the lab!!!

[CatchWithoutArms @ Dec 1st 2006 12:54PM]

I know exactly what you mean. makes me feel all tingly when its related to my field of work... kinda

[Sean @ Dec 1st 2006 4:26PM]

Liquid Crystal???? Can we also have it display advertisement? It could pay for itself!

[Scott @ Dec 1st 2006 4:42PM]

Maxx,

I don't know where you get your information, but I'm guessing it's from movies like The Rock. Let me assure you that our warfighter have the best available equipment. Certainly we are always looking to improve. I can tell you from first hand experience testing and evaluating our equipment that the suits provided will not have agent eating through it. They are made to withstand more than the most "benign of chemicals like tear gas" and definitely to last more than the 20-30 minutes you state.

Also from experince in the military going through the tear gas chamber, we were not in our chemical protective suits, just the regular BDOs with mask. This may be why your body was burning Matt, NOT because our chemical protective suits don't work.

Stop misinforming people.

[Maxx @ Dec 2nd 2006 2:50AM]

Scott,

I get my information from Army NBC classes and training. Please refrain from personal attacks. ( ie the Rock ) Let me asure you that our warfighters don't have the newest and best equipment for NBC and even if they did by the time they dug it out and put it on they would be long dead. Yes they are made to withstand more than the most benign of chemicals like tear gas but only if you have them on properly before you are exposed. Lab testing does not equal field use. In out testing 85% of troops can't properly put even their gas mask on correctly in time let alone their entire MOPP 4 gear. And yes I assure you that there are chemical weapons that will eat through your suit. And no you did not test with these chemicals because they don't test with them as they are too dangerous. Most that we are at risk for being exposed to will not however I was quoting a worst case situation. All that said if you are paying attention when we fit your masks they can save your life and I would rather have one than not but they do not provide the protection that some would have you believe.

[Keo @ Dec 3rd 2006 12:34PM]

I'm most intrigued by the comment about using the material for desalinization -- it made me think of the stillsuits used by Fremen in the Dune novels.

[Scott @ Dec 6th 2006 12:00PM]

MAXX,

I know this is a bit late. I've been busy. Anyhow, I never said our warfighters have the newest equipment. I know that. The aqcuisition process takes a long time and by the time something is fielded we are already testing its replacement. I somewhat agree with part of your comment. You basically state that we have training issues which is not the fault of the equipment. Lab testing does not equal field testing, that's why we do both. Yes we do test the equipment with the dangerous chemicals. I work at US Army Dugway Proving Ground. Look it up. We have to specifically test to these dangerous chemicals in order for the equipment to get passed. Lastly, you mentioned the blood agents as the most nasty. Well FYI, blood agents (in particular hdrogen cyanide (AC) and cyanogen chloride (CK)) are primarily vapor threats and the primary mode of entry is by inhalation. They also have extremely short persistence and dissapate quickly. It would not have the 20-30 minutes to "eat your suit." The mask is what would be important here, not the suit. The rate of action if inhaled is quick and death could occur within 5 minutes if inhaled in high concentrations. The agents that suits must protect against are Nerve and Blister. These cause symptoms when in contact.

Don't try to teach me and everyone else chem bio defense and about our equipment when it's obvious you don't have the expertise to do so.

[Nigel @ Sep 16th 2008 11:16AM]

Gentlemen & Ladies, Where can I get suits made with 1.2 nm or material in sheet form to make suits out of breathable rubber (Butyl) I am a rubberist and I can see a great market for others of my persuasion to fill the suit market?