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Tuesday, October 19, 2004 - 3:30 PM
MIL 2.4

Development of Polymeric Microfibrous Materials and Their Applications

E. A. Luna, B. J. Tatarchuk, Auburn University, Auburn, AL

As of late, air quality has become a serious concern nationwide creating a renewed emphasis on research into filtration and filtration materials. Adequate Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) and Collective Protection Equipment (CPE) depend upon the appropriate type of filtration and media to satisfy constricting filtration standards. Through advances in polymer manufacturing and new types of polymer fibers, new areas of filtration media have recently been developed. The work presented here will discuss the development of a polymeric microfibrous entrapped sorbent, testing of the media to remove hexane (as a chemical threat simulant for DMMP), and fabrication of prototype filtration units using this novel media. Polymeric microfibrous materials are made from a matrix of micron diameter (12 micron to 20 micron), bi-component polymer fibers formed in a wet-lay process. The wet-lay process facilitates the efficient and effective entrapment of fine particulates (100 micron to 250 micron particle size). Breakthrough testing (face velocity 10cm/s, challenge concentration 550ppm of hexane) has demonstrated a single layer of polymeric microfibrous material (at <4mm thickness) can sustain 5-Log filtration for greater than 5 minutes. This media provides 5-Log protection against a chemical threat (DMMP, Sarin, etc.) and is easily tailored to multiple chemical threat applications. In systems requiring low cost, low pressure drop, and low temperature operation, polymeric microfibrous material is the appropriate media for 5-Log protection against a wide array of chemical threats. Other advantages of this novel media are tunable basis weight, mechanical robustness, and a straightforward manufacturing process.

Summary: Polymeric microfibrous materials are made from a sinter-locked matrix of micron diameter polymer fibers formed in a wet-lay process. Breakthrough testing has demonstrated that a single layer of polymeric microfibrous material can sustain 5-Log filtration until 95% of the saturation capacity is attained.