LIGHTWEIGHT WITH FLAME PROTECTION: BRAND GORE-TEX® INTRODUCES NEW GENERATION OF COMBAT SUITS FOR WARM CLIMATES

Conventional flame-retardant textiles often pose a dilemma: They protect reliably against heat and flames, but are heavy, stiff and hardly breathable. For soldiers, this means additional stress – and in extreme cases, heat stress, limited freedom of movement and faster fatigue. The new generation of PYRAD® Product Technology by GORE-TEX LABS® solves this conflict: It offers protection in the event of sudden flames. With very low weight, high air permeability and stretch content for a cooler and more comfortable feel, it’s effective even under heavy equipment.

Access for worldwide ready-to-use combat suits 

Using new technology, the GORE-TEX® Brand expands the temperature and application spectrum of membrane-free laminates with PYRAD® Product Technology by GORE-TEX LABS®. It is efficient from the Arctic to the Indo-Pacific.

"The combination of these technologies enables modular, flame-retardant combat variants for ground forces, Air Force and Navy, covering all climate zones and application profiles worldwide," explains Andreas Marmsoler, Strategic Defence Marketing at the GORE-TEX® Band. "The new product range allows very light, stretchable laminates to be combined with more robust variants. For example, light materials can be used in less stressed areas such as breast or legs and more resistant laminates in heavily stressed areas such as shoulders, elbows or knees.”

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Maximum safety – proven in the field

Practical field tests in collaboration with special units and naval personnel in the Middle East, the Mediterranean and the Pacific demonstrate the high functionality of the new technology. The combat suits do not show any performance degradation, or disturbing noise during movement. They maintain their protective effect even with exposure to plate carriers, thorns, brambles or abrasive surfaces. For comfort in medium to high activity in hot climates they are particularly effective compared to the limitations of conventional materials. Many users consider the lower fatigue effect and increased readiness for use as crucial.

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High-performance materials for practical use

PYRAD® Product Technology is based on a physical effect: It consists of countless small reactive graphite particles, which are uniformly incorporated into the tissue. If the particles are heated by a sudden flame, they react immediately to a stable continuous carbon layer, effectively preventing the heat flow through the laminate and stopping the flame spread.

Developed as a laminate for combat suits, the new PYRAD® Product Technology by GORE-TEX LABS® is tested to international standards:

·       Protection against heat and sudden flames according to index 3 ISO 14116 according to test acc. ISO 15025-a, Manikin Thermal Test: Pyroman 3s ISO 13506

·       Light weight (< 185 gsm) for greater mobility during use

·       High air permeability (> 200 l/m2/sec) ensures effective moisture management and reduces heat stress (EN ISO 9237)

·       Stretch fabric allows unrestricted freedom of movement, even when wearing the equipment due to stretch ≥ 12% in the warp or weft direction (EN ISO 20932-1:2020 + A1:2021 method A.  
para. 11)

·       Thanks to the fast-drying capability, it is immediately ready for use again even after contact with water

·       High durability: Function remains stable even after 20 wash cycles, excellent colour fastness under UV and seawater conditions; resistant to pilling and abrasion in harsh environments

·       Abrasion resistance (≥ 80.000 cycles per EN ISO 12947-2)

·       LIGHT FASTNESS ≥6 (EN ISO 105-B02)