Why in news?
- In a major breakthrough, the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has developed a special sealant as an alternative to seam sealing tape which is critical in Personal Protective Equipment (PPE).
- A bio suit was also developed to keep medical and other personnel engaged in combating COVID-19 safe from the deadly virus, Defence Ministry said on 2nd April 2020.
Details
- The DRDO has prepared a special sealant as an alternative to seam sealing tape based on the sealant used in submarine applications.
- Presently, bio suits prepared using this glue for seam sealing by an industry partner has cleared test.
- The bio suit was developed with the help of the industry by scientists at various DRDO laboratories by applying the technical know-how and expertise in textile, coating and nanotechnology.
- It has been subjected to rigorous testing for textile parameters as well as protection against synthetic blood.
- The DRDO is trying to ensure that these suits are produced in large numbers to serve as defensive equipment for all the paramedics, medics and other health care personnel who are fighting in the frontlines against the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Efforts are on to increase the production capacity to about 15000 suits per day. Another vendor is being brought, who has the experience in garment technology.
Why was it necessary?
- Bio suit production in the country by DRDO industry partners and other industries were being hampered due to non-availability of seam sealing tapes.
- DRDO can mass produce this glue through the industry to support the seam sealing activity by suit manufacturers.
- The industry is preparing to produce the bio suit in large quantities, to meet the increasing shortage of personal protective equipment in the nation.
Another instancesof Innovation in the country
- Naval Dockyard, Mumbai, has designed and developed its own handheld Infra Red (IR) based temperature sensor for screening at its entry gates, which have an average influx of around 20,000 personnel every day.
- The instrument has been manufactured through in-house resources at a cost of under ₹1000, a fraction of the cost of the temperature guns in the market, the Navy said.
