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"Second Skin" Material Protects Against Chemical and Biological Threats

Academic, research, and industry teams led by the Defense Threat Reduction Agency's Chemical and Biological Technologies Department (DTRA-CB) are developing 'Second Skin' technology - dynamic, multifunctional materials that can respond to a chemical and biological threat. The materials can be manufactured into everyday military uniforms but use molecular-level technologies to protect against such attacks as soon as the wearer enters a contaminated area. The technology program began in 2012 and is budgeted for $30 million over five years. At the end of the program, the researchers will have swatches of fabric that will be expected to sense a chemical or biological threat and provide a response to the attack. It is expected that a follow-on program will focus on techniques leading to the manufacture of the military uniforms.