The Institute of Environmental and Human Health (TIEHH) at Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas; England-based Remploy Frontline and Waco, Texas-based Hobbs Bonded Fibers have partnered to develop protective garments for first responders to natural disasters and bio-terror attacks. The garments will be lighter and longer-wearing than those currently available and will offer increased protection from contaminants and a broad range of toxic chemicals.

The garments will feature a protective cotton and man-made fiber fabric technology created earlier this year by Seshadri Ramkumar, Ph.D., assistant professor, TIEHH. According to TIEHH, this technology is in keeping with the US Department of Defense chemical and biological defense program modernization strategy.

This alliance will help meet the needs of the post-9/11 global environment,said Ron Kendall, Ph.D., director, TIEHH.

If all research and testing steps occur as hoped, a product could be on the market as soon as the end of 2006. Remploy Frontline has manufactured protective clothing for military and emergency personnel worldwide for more than 30 years. Hobbs Bonded Fibers has developed and manufactured specialty nonwoven products for industrial and consumer markets for the past 50 years.

Textileworld.com