Secure, Antibacterial, Flame-retardant, Enhanced Guard Apparel for Resilient Defense
The SAFEGUARD project is focused on the development of advanced textile materials with multiple protective properties that will improve the safety and efficiency of users in demanding and high-risk environments. It is an innovative research and development venture aimed at integrating fire-resistant, antimicrobial and UV-protective functionalities into textiles, while ensuring safety for the user and the environment.
Modern military and protective operations require personnel to operate for long periods in harsh conditions, where standard textiles often do not provide a sufficient level of protection. Existing solutions have a number of limitations: poor fire resistance and rapid flame spread in the event of explosions or flammable materials; insufficient protection against UV radiation, which increases the risk of burns and long-term health consequences; susceptibility to microorganisms, which favors the development of infections and reduces hygiene conditions; limited durability of the coating, which is washed off after washing or degraded under adverse conditions; potential toxicity of the chemicals used, with risks to health and the environment. In the context of security challenges, but also growing demands for sustainable and environmentally friendly solutions, there is a clear need for innovative approaches to the development of multifunctional textiles.
SAFEGUARD brings together teams from Croatia, Switzerland and Austria. Each partner contributes to the project according to its specialization. The Croatian partner leads the development and optimization of new coatings, the Swiss partners conduct systematic microbiological testing of the effectiveness of the coatings, and the Austrian partners examine the biocompatibility and safety of the developed materials. This model of cooperation allows the pooling of knowledge and resources from different disciplines and ensures a comprehensive verification of the functionality, safety and durability of the developed solutions.
Although the primary purpose of the project is to strengthen the safety of military personnel, the results have a much wider applicability in various sectors. In the military sector for the development of uniforms, protective equipment, tents and other textile solutions. In emergency services for equipment for firefighters, police and medical personnel. In healthcare for microorganism-resistant textiles for hospitals and field ambulances. In civilian life for materials for sports and outdoor equipment with additional safety features.
Latest Insights
Research Goals and Activities
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Durability and function
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Extensive testing
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Material safety
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Antimicrobial Testing Group
Testing the flame-retardant properties through controlled combustion experiments.
Evaluating UV protection through spectroscopic analysis and exposure tests.
Assessing antimicrobial efficacy against common pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans).
Optimizing the coating processes to ensure consistency and durability, including wash resistance. Conducting extensive testing under simulated conditions to ensure the coatings meet the required standards.
The safety of the developed coatings will be validated through cytotoxicity tests using human-immortalized keratinocyte cell lines (HaCaT) as well as dendritic cells (differentiated from THP-1 cells). Environmental impact assessments will also be performed to ensure the coatings are safe for human use and do not pose environmental risks during production, use, or disposal.
Establishing the Antimicrobial Testing Group in the NPD laboratory to facilitate ongoing and future validation efforts.
