Silver News
NASA Tests Silver Clothes – Underwater
When National Aeronautics and Space Administration
(NASA) crewmembers went underwater for a recent 10-day training mission, they wore silver-based clothing to cut down on bacteria and odor.
The crew of the NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO) 6 lived in the Aquarius test facility off the coast of Florida to simulate life in the confined International Space Station. Part of the mission was to test how to protect crewmembers from bacterial growth in their
clothing and linens while on space missions in which laundry and bathing facilities like those at home are not available.
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The NEEMO 6 crew used clothing, towels and bedding made with Fosshield, produced by Foss Manufacturing Company Inc. of Hampton, New Hampshire, in partnership with Kinston, North Carolina-based Domestic Fabrics, a manufacturer of circular and warp knitted fabrics.
“We place great importance on the health, safety and comfort of the specialists who participate in NASA missions, and we are always working to maintain a healthy environment in our on-orbit facilities,” said Tara Ruttley, a NASA engineer who served as a mission specialist for
NEEMO 6. “The closed-system Aquarius test capsule provided us with an ideal opportunity to evaluate the performance of the silver ion fabric in a space station situation.”
The crew tested silver-based materials as well as regular
clothing, and the silver-based materials remained noticeably fresher and more comfortable throughout the mission, NASA reported. Detailed test results have not yet been released.
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Foss offers other silver-based fiber applications including mattress components, pillows, hospital scrubs, wound care products, air and water filters, automotive upholstery, wall coverings, athletic and intimate apparel, shoe insoles and cleaning supplies.
The company also says that Fosshield shows promise in getting rid of dust mites on fabrics, because the silver-based product eliminates their food source.
Silver News - Fourth Quarter 2004
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