Examples of insecticide-free, mosquito bite proof garments for military uniforms and everyday life

Tuesday, November 12, 2024

11:15 AM – 11:30 AM MST

Location: Phoenix Convention Center, 221 B, PCC

Presenting Author(s)

Andre J. West (he/him/his)

Director, Zeis Textiles Extension, Professor, TATM
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina

Co-Author(s)

JL

Jiayin Li

North Carolina State University, North Carolina
Elizabeth Kirkwood

PhD Student
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina
KL

Kun Luan

Post Doctoral Researcher
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina
GC

Grayson L. Cave, Ph.D.

Ph.D. Student
North Carolina State University
Cary, North Carolina
CA

Charles Apperson, Ph.D.

North Carolina State University
RALEIGH, North Carolina
RR

R. Michael Roe, Ph.D. (he/him/his)

William Neal Reynolds Distinguished Professor
North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina
ED

Emiel Den Hartog

North Carolina State University
Raleigh, North Carolina
CK

Cassandra Kwon

North Carolina State University, North Carolina
MM

Marion McCord

North Carolina State University, North Carolina

Mosquito bite resistant garments are treated with an insecticide bound to fabric that can survive washing. At NCSU, methods were developed to produce mosquito bite resistant fabrics based on textile structure alone (no insecticides). These fabrics were used to develop a military base layer, a potential next generation combat shirt, and a military sweater. Examples will be presented of the translation of the technology to clothing for everyday life. The garments are equal or superior in comfort to comparable garments already in use, and they maintain and in some cases increase their bite resistance with washing. Comfort test results including sweating manikin studies will be presented. Whole garment manikin fire testing show the potential for no melt no drip, a military requirement for garments that come into contact with skin.