It is made of viscose fabric with the addition of polyester.
A new universal material for protection against the most toxic poisons and bacteria was discovered by chemists from NUST MISiS together with Moscow State University. Lomonosov. Taking ordinary viscose fabric as a basis, they modified it by impregnating it with metal nanoparticles and enzymes that break down complex organic compounds. The results of the work were published in the international scientific journal Molecular Science.
Most materials for chemical and biological protection are highly specialized, they are used mainly by the military. Recently, scientists have managed to invent a universal protective material based on accessible to all viscose fabric with the addition of polyester, which can protect against strong chemicals and bacteria at the same time. At the first stage, the fabric was impregnated with the so-called hydrosol (enzyme solution), which is able to protect against toxins, then dried, and at the third stage, an antibacterial agent was applied – a colloidal alcohol solution of tantalum or zinc nanoparticles.
As a result of the interaction between enzymes and metal nanoparticles, a complex has emerged that works on both toxins and bacteria,” explains Georgy Frolov, Associate Professor of the Department of Physical Chemistry at MISiS. – Moreover, the active substances mutually reinforce each other’s action: in relation to some bacteria, for example, Escherichia coli, tantalum particles are more effective in combination with enzymes, in relation to others – zinc. If we add copper to the particles of tantalum and zinc, the material will also protect against viruses, including coronavirus.
Thus, scientists have come close to the discovery of a “smart” material, the properties of which can be controlled depending on emerging external factors.
Chemists believe that if custom-designed modules could be applied to ordinary clothing, depending on the type of potential threat, then protection would increase.
The next step will be to further increase the activity of the complex. Developers also want to understand the very mechanism of such a mutual, synergistic effect of different substances.