Tech Researchers Use Cotton to Improve Decontamination Wipes
By: Michaela MacDonald
Updated: March 4, 2013
Texas Tech researchers have unveiled a new and improved version of their patented decontamination wipe, this time made with all cotton. The wipes will soon be used by the Department of Defense to help soldiers better protect themselves against chemical weapons.
"This gives new applications for cotton," said Dr. Seshadri Ramkumar, inventor of the "Fibertect" decontamination wipes.
Ramkumar unveiled the technology a few years ago, but now he is using cotton to make the product more absorbent.
"We proved that this cotton carbon fiber developed at Texas Tech University, manufactured right in this lab was able to absorb the neurogas simulant," said Ramkumar.
He uses cotton grown right here on the South Plains to make the high tech "Fibertect" to be used by soldiers in decontamination.
"When there is a spill on a human skin such as my arm, the soldier will take this wipe and he can simply wipe it. There are certain protocols whether he needs to apply one time two time three time that depends upon the severity of the spill and it will take the shape of the object that has to be cleaned," said Ramkumar.
Independent tests showed this new cotton "Fibertect" was five times as effective at cleaning up spills as the powder the army was using. Ramkumar says that's because it can get into hard to reach places that powder cannot.
"This being a cotton carbon with no particles you can wipe any object that has to be decontaminated, it can also clean crevices," said Ramkumar.
Now the Army is phasing out the powdered product in favor of "Fibertect" technology.
"This gives new applications for cotton," said Dr. Seshadri Ramkumar, inventor of the "Fibertect" decontamination wipes.
Ramkumar unveiled the technology a few years ago, but now he is using cotton to make the product more absorbent.
"We proved that this cotton carbon fiber developed at Texas Tech University, manufactured right in this lab was able to absorb the neurogas simulant," said Ramkumar.
He uses cotton grown right here on the South Plains to make the high tech "Fibertect" to be used by soldiers in decontamination.
"When there is a spill on a human skin such as my arm, the soldier will take this wipe and he can simply wipe it. There are certain protocols whether he needs to apply one time two time three time that depends upon the severity of the spill and it will take the shape of the object that has to be cleaned," said Ramkumar.
Independent tests showed this new cotton "Fibertect" was five times as effective at cleaning up spills as the powder the army was using. Ramkumar says that's because it can get into hard to reach places that powder cannot.
"This being a cotton carbon with no particles you can wipe any object that has to be decontaminated, it can also clean crevices," said Ramkumar.
Now the Army is phasing out the powdered product in favor of "Fibertect" technology.
