Artificial Sweat and Cleaning Chemical Study Life Protection Global.pdf

Effect of Artificial Perspiration and Cleaning Chemicals on Mechanical and Chemical Properties of Ballistic Fibers NISTIR 7494 2 NISTIR 7494 Effect of Artificial Perspiration and Cleaning Chemicals on the Mechanical and Chemical Properties of Ballistic Fibers Sylvain Petit and Joannie Chin Polymeric Materials Group Materials and Construction Research Division Building and Fire Research Laboratory Amanda Forster, Michael Riley and Kirk Rice Office of Law Enforcement Standards Electronics and Electrical Engineering Laboratory Sponsored by: National Institute of Justice Office of Justice Programs (Agreement number 2003IJR029) May 2008 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Carlos M. Gutierrez, Secretary NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY James M. Turner, Acting Director 3 Abstract During routine field use of soft body armor, the ballistic panels often become saturated with perspiration. This condition motivates the user to clean and/or deodorize the armor, and anecdotal evidence is given for various methods used to accomplish this. While the cleaning/deodorization is usually performed on the armor liners and coverings, there is concern that the chemicals could seep into the ballistic panels. The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of perspiration and cleaning chemicals on the mechanical and chemical properties of aramid, poly(p-phenylene benzobisoxazole), and ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene ballistic yarns and fabrics following controlled cycles of exposure to artificial perspiration and dilute solutions of common cleaning chemicals. It was observed that the effect of the artificial perspiration on properties of all materials tested was the same as that of water alone. Of all of the cleaning chemicals employed, only chlorine bleach had a detrimental effect on fiber properties that was above and beyond that of water alone. All other cleaning chemical solutions and artificial perspiration induced the sa