DuPont Will Help Develop Nanomaterials to Clothe, Equip U.S. Soldiers
March 18, 2002 — DuPont will be part of an effort spearheaded by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) to develop lightweight molecular materials to equip the U.S. soldier of the future with uniforms and gear that help heal them, shield them and protect them against chemical and biological warfare. Last week, the U.S. Army awarded MIT a five-year, USD 50 million grant to establish an Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies (ISN). DuPont is among the Founding Industrial Partners who will work closely with the ISN and the U.S. Army Natick Soldier Center and the U.S. Army Research Laboratory in Aberdeen, Maryland, to develop revolutionary new materials that can be used in field-ready products.
Engineers and scientists will work to develop ideas such as a uniform that is nearly invisible and soft clothing that can become a rigid cast when a soldier breaks his or her leg.
The ISN will focus on six key soldier capabilities: threat detection, threat neutralization (such as bulletproof clothing), concealment, enhanced human performance, real-time automated medical treatment, and reduced logistical footprint (i.e. lightening the load of the fully equipped soldier).
Applying science to fulfill human needs is part of the DuPont integrated science strategy for achieving sustainable growth.
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