New Delhi. 04 April 2020. Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed a number of products and technologies for defence against CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear) agents. As a part of this effort DRDE, Gwalior has developed CBRN Permeable Suit Mk V and 53000 suits have been supplied to Army and NDRF. For first responders attending to radiological emergencies a reusable Suit has been developed by INMAS, Delhi. ADRDE, Agra has developed various types of parachutes that use fabrics similar to protective technical textiles.
The Labs have applied their technical knowledge and expertise in textile, coating technology and nanotechnology into research to find a solution in form of a bio suit to fight COVID-19. This has resulted in finding a specific type of fabric with a specific type of coating for making a bio suit which can keep the medical, paramedical and other personnel requiring PPE safe from COVID-19. The suit has been prepared with the help of the industry and has been subjected to rigorous testing for textile parameters as well as protection against synthetic blood. The protection against synthetic blood exceeds the criteria defined for body suits by MoH&FW. Industry is geared up for the production of the suit in large quantities. M/s Kusumgarh industries is producing the raw material, coating material and the complete suit is being manufactured with the help of another industry. The production capacity of 7000 suits per day exists.
Another industry is being brought in with the experience in garment technology and efforts are on to ramp up the capacity to 15000 suits per day. The bio suit production in the country by DRDO industry partners and other industries are being hampered due to non availability of seam sealing tapes. DRDO has prepared a special sealant as an alternative to seam sealing tape based on the sealant used in submarine applications. Presently bio suits prepared using this glue for seam sealing by an industry partner has cleared test at SITRA, Coimbatore. This can be a game changer for the textile industry. DRDO can mass produce this glue through industry to support the seam sealing activity by suit manufacturers.
DRDO is putting all out efforts to see that these suits are produced in large numbers and serve as a robust line of defence for our medics, paramedics and other personnel in the front line for combating COVID-19..
