Topic: Neval and armed forces clothing

Introduction:
Textiles for Armed forces and Neval forces uniforms face a complex set of
challenges. They must provide protection, durability and comfort in a wide range
of hostile environments. In this assignment we will discuss the history of armed
forces textile , the range of recent research on how armed forces clothing can best
meet soldiers needs. The general requirements of armed forces textiles are
damage resistance, comfort, sweat management, cold-weather conditions and the
integration of high-tech materials into uniforms. We will also discuss the
protective role of military textiles, high-performance ballistic fibres, textiles for
chemical and biological protection, camouflage materials and armed forces fabric
for flame protection.
Clothing and textile equipment for the armed forces or other public organisations
have special functional properties which provide maximum support to the armed
forces in their daily work.
This includes, for example, testing the fit of uniform components and carrying out
serial measurement surveys to assess current body sizes, and also developing
technical specifications in close cooperation with the customer, and then testing the
product against the quality guidelines that have been produced. It is also possible
to calculate the effect of the clothing systems on the mental performance of the
troops. For successful product development, it is also advantageous to have
independent verification of specific product functions such as the antimicrobial,
odour-inhibiting or insect-repellent effect of treatments, including the skin
penetration of harmful substances from treatments or finishing processes.
In the time of production of armed and neval force clothing need to check other
product features which require, such as the camouflage effect, UV protection, skin
friendliness or comfort properties of textile articles and can give you specific
support on developing materials with innovative properties and protective
functions such as uniform materials which absorb infrared radiation.

History of Neval and armed forces clothing/ textile:

Humans have used forms of protective armor in combat for at least five millennia.

At first animal skins and furs were the only protection both in combat and in cold
weather. Tall headwear made from animal furs(bearskin caps), feather(ostrich) or
carrying tall plumes to increase apparent height of troops . The materials used were
all of natural origin like as, wool,cotton, silk, flax, horsehair, furs from bears, seals,
tigers, leopards etc. feather from birds such as chickens, pecock and ostrich.
Ancient civilizations used leather as a form of protection beginning in roughly
3000 BC. The use of leather has continued as a means of various types of body
protection. Some 700 years later, ancient cultures such as those in Egypt learned to
alter leather by boiling and tanning it. Leather was very effective in warding off
blows from bludgeoning weapons and can be found serving this role in some
cultures and subcultures up to the present day. The first fabricated weapons of note
in warfare were swords and spears, so more advanced armor was at first designed
specifically to address these threats. The Egyptians were using armor to protect
from slashing and cutting weapons as early as 1500 BC. The first forms of armor
were probably cloth garments with bronze scales or plates sewn mounted on them.
The Syrians apparently developed lamellar armor between 900 and 600 BCby
mounting small rectangular plates upon a garment in parallel rows. Later, the
Greeks made armor from bronze plates that not only fitted over the individual parts
of the body, but were shaped to fi t over the part of the body where it would be
carried. Chain mail seems to have been invented by the Celts in Europe, but it was
quickly adopted by the Romans and many subsequent civilizations.

20th century:
In this century scientific experiments were done to make perfect military textile.
Scientist were concerned about the material, color, fabric construction, comfort,
effectiveness and quality of military textiles.
The British forces adopted khaki colored cotton made uniforms in 1902. This
cotton uniform gave insufficient protection from different climate. So, wool
worsted twill fabric uniforms were used afterwards. All non-clothing materials,
like- tents, covers, nets, load carriage items, sleeping systems made from natural
fibres (wool, cotton, flax, jute, hemp, sisal).
In 1930, the new fibre Nylon was used for light strong parachute canopies and
the development of Ventile cotton fabric (water proof but water vapour permeable
fabric) for aircrew survival clothing.The British Royal Air Force and the US Army
Air Corps created and issued protective vests to flight personnel beginning early in
the Second World War. These early ballistic resistant armors were known as flak
jackets because German Anti-Aircraft Artillery was known as FLAK

(Fliegerabwehrkanonen). Thus, flak jackets are ballistic-resistant garments

intended solely for the purpose of defending a body from shrapnel, or explosion
fragments, and not from bullets. These first flak vests contained steel plates carried
in multiple plies of nylon fabric that protected against relatively low velocity
shrapnel.
Denison smock is a fabric which was used for military purpose. It was
lightweight windproof cotton gabardine fabric and bearing camouflage in 1941
(UK).
In 1944, a sand colour vehicle cover was introduced for desert warfare. USA
introduced the layered combat clothing concept in 1943. In 1970, the olive green
100% cotton satin drill fabric was invented. The 1st four color printed combat
material was introduced in 1972 in UK.

Special operation:
Neval and armed forces cloths Fabrics play a vital role in developing durably
waterproof, windproof and breathable garment systems.
We continue to pioneer fabric technologies that enhance mission performance by
extending the range of utility in changing temperatures and environments. Recent
developments have led to highly breathable and water-resistant fabrics that
are lighter weight, extremely compressible and they pick up less water, while
maintaining optimal comfort levels.
Next generation fabric technologies, such as heat and flame protection, signature
management and chemical and biological (CB) protection are being incorporated
into garment systems that meet U.S. Military requirements.

Outerwear:
Military operations can change rapidly moving from wet conditions to hot or cold
environments. Our technically advanced fabrics and garment systems
are engineered to protect against rain, high wind, and extreme cold conditions,
further enhancing operational effectiveness.

Gloves:
Gloves made with durably waterproof, windproof, and breathable GORE-TEX
liners keep hands dry and comfortable in rain, high wind, and cold environments
without sacrificing dexterity, tactility, and operability. Your ensemble is not
complete unless you have proper gloves that provide long-lasting protection
against extreme.
Footwear:
Your feet need to be protected against varying.

Features of Armed Forces Textiles:

Light weight fire retardant fabric is necessary for the clothing of the Naval
and Armed forces personnel. Especially for the person engaged in
engineering works and working in the heated condition.

Moreover military clothing should be capable to protect them from cold and
should have buoyant properly.

Some clothing of such property is manufactured on commercial basis.

Candadian forces are using such type of clothing. These types of clothing are
made of Nomex fiber.

Head hoods and hand gloves made of Kevlar fiber are used by the
Newzeland naval forces. Beside those clothing, different type of flame
retardant clothing are manufactured and used by the naval and armed forces.

NASA (National Aeronautic Space Authority) has prescribed clothing of

special property to protect the soldiers from the critical environment during
warfare.

As such clothing, cotton fabric has been considered as the best because of
comfortability, electrical resistiivity and skin sensitivity. Chemically treated
cotton fabrics are used for the manufacture of such clothing. Two ply fabrics
are used for the clothing. The chemically treated cotton fabric plies are 244
grams per square yard mercerized knitted single jersey fabrics.

These fabrics are flame retardant finished with THPOH/NH3 and DAP/Urea
in two steps. As a result, these type clothing shows better flame retardancy
and burning retardancy properly, this is approved by NASA.

Blanket made for the soldiers is made of two ply fabric made from glass
fibre and in between two ply fabric.

Fibrous silica is used. Beside those, as heat resistant clothing needle felt
nomexfibre, ceramic and graphite fibre woven fabric. Silicon rubber coated
fabrics also used on this.

Characteristics of military textile:

The requirement should be such that there should not be thread breaks up
to 50,000 abrasion cycles when tested as per IS: 12673:1989.

Air permeability of the fabric shall be at least 5cc/sec/cm2 when tested

according to IS 11056:1984.

Water vapor permeability (watermethod)Shall be 1400g/m2/day (Minimum)

when tested according to ASTME-96.

The use of either FR(fire resistent) fibers or FR coating should also be

included in the present specification to meet surface ignition test when tested
as per ISO 15025 (no hole formation, no melting and no dripping).

Protective materials:
All ballistic resistant materials have certain common characteristics. The use of
polymer materials has made the protection to weight ratio very favorable for
their use over metals or ceramics. Lower weight also permits greater mobility
and better capability for police or military personnel to perform their
assignments with reduced threats from attackers. In addition to the desired
characteristic of low weight, there are also important demands for flexibility
and thermal transport. Stiff, inflexible ballistic garments inhibit performance
even at low weight. Garments or materials that trap body heat and moisture are
unpleasant for intended wearers and are cited as one of the main reasons such
garments are not worn in the line of duty.
The materials that are used now a days for making armed forces dresses, are-

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Polyester
Cotton
High Tenacity Polyester
Kevlar
Coolmax
Meta Aramid
Lycra
Nomex

Here Kevlar, Coolmax, Meta Aramid,Nomexthese three are registered man madefibre.

Kevlar:
Kevleris the registered trademark for a para-aramid synthetic fiber. Developed by
Stephanie Kwolek at DuPont in 1965, this high-strength material was first
commercially used in the early 1970s as a replacement for steel in racing tires.
Typically it is spun into ropes or fabric sheets that can be used as such or as an
ingredient in composite material components.

Nomex:
Nomex is a registered trademark for flame-resistantmeta-aramid material
developed in the early 1960s by DuPont and first marketed in 1967.

Coolmax:
Coolmax, a trademark of Invista, is a brand name for a series of moisture-wicking
technical fabrics developed in 1986 by DuPont Textiles and Interiors (now
Invista). The fabrics employ specially-engineered polyester fibres to improve
"breathability" compared to natural fibres like cotton. 'Wick away' or 'wickaway' is
a general term used for fabrics that are engineered to draw moisture away from the
skin through capillary action and increased evaporation over a wider surface area.

Treatments for these fabrics are

Camouflage printing
IRR Finish
Flame Retardant Treatment
Antibacterial finish
High Visibility Dyeing

Silver treatment
Dyeing to customer's own shades
NATO color range

Neval clothing:
Dress Uniforms
Working Uniforms
Physical Training Uniforms
Insignia
Outerwear
Footwear
Head & Hand Wear
Organizational Coveralls
GP Disposable Clothing
Cold Weather Clothing
Wet Weather Clothing
Welding Gear
Conclution:

Different types of flame retardant clothing are used by naval and armed forces.