A new technology has been developed that makes it possible to create fabric out of plasma, a hot ionized gas considered to be a distinct fourth state of matter.

A research team at the Agency for Defense Development (ADD) announced that it has developed a "wearable atmospheric pressure plasma fabric, produced by knitting flexible wire electrodes for the decontamination of chemical warfare agents," on Jan. 23.

Plasma, distinct from solids, liquids or gases, is an ionized gas that forms when the atoms in a gas are charged by energy that frees the electrons from atoms or molecules. This allows both ions and electrons to coexist in the gas. On Earth, plasma naturally occurs in lightning and in auroras.

With this new technology, researchers were able to knit this highly charged state of matter into a wearable plasma fabric that can be formed into any shape. Researchers say they will apply the technology to develop "plasma blankets" that can decontaminate toxic agents, to be used by soldiers undergoing chemical, biological and radiological (CBR) training. In addition to its use as a decontaminant, the fabric can also be used to sterilize wounds and can be used in medicine, beauty, biotechnology and the environment.



Pre-existing technology to treat atmospheric pressure plasma (APP) was unable to create non-flat, three-dimensional surfaces due to its reliance on rigid electrodes. In order to solve this issue, researchers introduced flexible wire electrodes that could be bent and shaped as desired. They then knit the wires into a flexible, lightweight plasma fabric for easy use.



"I believe the new atmospheric pressure plasma technology, which has many uses in national defense, will strengthen national security with science and technology," said Jung Heesoo, head researcher at the ADD. "I look forward to conducting extensive research into plasma in the future," he said.

A research paper covering the details of the research results was published on Jan. 18 in the latest issue of Scientific Reports, a sister publication of Nature, the international science journal, and can be found at the link below.

http://http://www.nature.com/articles/srep40746

By Lee Hana
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: ADD
hlee10@korea.kr