UK MoD develops synthetic skin to test decontamination procedures

The UK Ministry of Defence’s (MOD) Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) has developed a new synthetic ‘skin’ that could be used to evaluate new decontamination procedures.

Developed in collaboration with the Defence Equipment and Support (DE&S) scientists, the skin has been developed as part of the ongoing efforts to create a more realistic test procedure that would emulate the immediate decontamination process used if soldiers come into contact with a liquid chemical warfare agent (CWA).

Made from a synthetic material, the skin demonstrated similar surface spread and absorption properties to actual skin when it was tested with CWAs.

Dstl hazard management scientist Jayne Ede said: "This synthetic ‘skin’ provides a robust test to assess a decontamination procedure, something which has previously proved difficult in the laboratory.

"It can be manufactured in large quantities and be easily fixed to a mannequin head-form, this allows for testing to take into account the contours of a face giving a much more representative result."

The use of mannequin head-form is expected to enable scientists to test how the decontamination process interacts with other personal protective equipment, in contrast to earlier testing procedures that only allowed for testing of small flat samples.

The new product is claimed to have efficacy comparable to the UK military’s existing Decontamination Kit Personal – 1 (DKP-1), a cloth pad containing Fuller’s earth that absorbs liquid contamination.

The scientists are currently conducting research to develop the prototype ‘skin’ to further match the properties of actual skin when it comes in contact with a wider range of liquid CWAs.

If successful, the approach would support more realistic testing of skin decontamination technology options, while enabling transfer of test methods and materials to industry, the MoD said.

The research work is being co-funded by Dstl’s programme and delivery directorate and the chemical biological radiological nuclear (CBRN) delivery team at DE&S.

CBRN project manager David Clements said: "Someone who comes into contact with a liquid chemical agent could see their nervous system attacked via the skin.

"What this synthetic ‘skin’ enables researchers to do, is conduct trials and test decontamination protocols in a safe and scientifically robust manner."

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Image: Laboratory testing being carried out using the newly developed synthetic skin. Photo: © Crown copyright.