TECHNOLOGY AREA(S): Human Systems
OBJECTIVE: This topic seeks means to include heat into the lining/liner of the cold weather boots, but must meet Berry Amendment compliance. The materials shall not cause burn injury to the wearer when exposed to flash flame incident (standard NFPA test: ASTM F 1930) 3 sec exposure.
DESCRIPTION: Current state of the art flight boots for military aircraft do not meet extreme cold weather protection requirements due to AF required limitation to overall boot bulk (shape/size), resulting in insubstantial insulation. The problem is driven by the restricted foot space while operating in and around aircraft. Newer insulation materials have been developed by industry that offer increased thermal insulation with novel adaptive phase change materials, body temperature activated, and some new sensor capabilities.
PHASE I: Develop the boot insulation liner from at least 2 material solution approaches with iterative prototyping and integration with the whole boot design. Phase I will deliver a prototype (one minimum design configuration) or two variants with supporting test data to demonstrate improved performances from current approved AF Cold Weather Flight boot. Required temperatures between -20F to -49F and produced in size 10 Men's boot in order to collect comparable thermal instrumented foot CLO value data.
PHASE II: Design selection and test samples. Produce 50 pairs of either one or two design solutions (novel material variants) with approval upon directions by the Govt from Phase I for the Extreme cold Weather Aviation System Boot with input from user community. The final configuration of Phase II boots shall have completed material performance testing to included characterization: thickness, fiber and material content identification, coatings, and/or sensing mechanism, or other technology enabling capability. The 50 pairs of one final configuration (or 25 pairs of 2 variants) must be made in most common 5 sizes to capture enough feedback from a variety of aviators.
PHASE III: Feedback from AF Aviation limited try on/grounded integration assessment of the 50 pairs of Phase II samples will incorporated into PHIII design for a final improved ECW Flight Boot, with or without heating. Phase III may incorporate additional technology from advanced developmental nonflammable improved safer alternative Li-ion battery (pending technology readiness and acceptability of by user representatives). Will require approval by PEO ACS/Human Systems, Chief Engineer, of design and test plan, and further performance testing of 5 prs initial Ph III prototypes. Laboratory testing will be conducted to ensure safety and suitability before determining any release to test in any operationally relevant environment (integration with platforms grounded). If determined safe for testing at platforms, contractor shall deliver 50 prs of final ECW Boots for Operational Suitability and Effectiveness Tests and Safe To Fly Approval. Dual Use Applications: Cold Regions Firefighting and Rescue Services, HAZMAT Services, Fishing industry, Farming, Extreme CW Sports /Professional Athletes (Olympic Footwear mfgrs), private Emergency Helicopter transport personnel.
REFERENCES: 1. SBIR 2017/ AFI 73-005 Title Lithium Metal or Lithium-Ion (Li-ion) Battery using Nonflammable, Room Temperature Ionic Liquid or Solid Electrolytes SBIR, Technology Area: Nuclear Technology; 2. Anthony Karis, T. Rioux, PhD. Xiaojiang Xu, U.S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM), Memo to Chief Crew Systems Engineer, USAF, Material Operations/Aircrew Performance Branch, WPAFB, dated 10 Dec 2015, subject: “Cold Weather; 3. PhD. Xiaojiang Xu, T. Karis, A. Potter, T. Rioux, U. S. Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine (USARIEM), Memo to D. McLean, USAF, WPAFB, , dated 16 Jan 2013, subject: “Cold Weather Ensemble Testing and Frostbite Modeling” report; 4. Kuperferman, Zelig; Audet, Norman, Navy Clothing and Textile Research Facility (NCTRF) DTIC ADA020963, Tech report May 0-73, “Lightweight Aluminized Fabric and insulation-Liner Materials for Proximity Firefighters’ Garments” dtd 1975KEYWORDS: Cold Weather Protection, Arctic Footwear, Flyer Boots, Textile Insulations, Heating Footwear, Sensor Heating, Non-flammable Lithium Ion
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