A new type of coating for textile fibers provides personal protection from exposure to chemical warfare or various industrial chemical agents. When used to functionalize such fibers, the water-stable,Textile coatings using water-stable MOFs protect against toxic industrial chemicals and chemical warfare agents. Source: North Carolina State University copper-based, metal-organic framework (MOF) film captures and immobilizes hazardous chemicals.

The coating formulated by researchers from North Carolina State University and the U.S. Army’s Combat Capabilities Development Command Chemical Biological Center can corral 2‐chloroethyl ethyl sulfide, a blistering agent simulant, under 80% relative humidity conditions. A solid‐source conversion strategy instead of a more conventional powder-source approach was used to coat the MOF onto fibers, resulting in a material that adsorbed three times more ammonia gas than the same MOF powder.

The production process improves control of MOF orientation and results in a radial arrangement of crystals on polypropylene fibers, as confirmed by electron microscopy. The coating is expected to be of use in the design of smart sensors, gas masks and other protective equipment, and will soon be tested with real chemical warfare agents.