Erno Raumfahrttechnik Gmbh

Joerg Hartmanns

Hans-Guenther Reimerdes

Detlef Mueller-Wiesner

Wolfgang Fischer

Lutz Kampmann

A multi-ply three-dimensionally bonded textile fabric is provided, to be used especially in making protective space suits, protective space shielding and other protective garments or shields. The fabric is a three-dimensionally woven, knitted, netted, braided or otherwise interlocked structure of threads including organic fibers such as aramid, polyethylene and/or polytetrafluoroethylene fibers and preferably also metallic fibers such as copper, aluminum and/or stainless steel fibers. These fibers are chosen to provide protection against adverse thermal, chemical, electrical and mechanical environmental effects that may be hazardous to an astronaut, for example. The fibers are arranged substantially in respective plies, and each ply is bonded or interlocked only to respective adjacent plies over substantially the entire ply area to provide a flexible multi-ply fabric. The threads are arranged to provide a gradient or variation in characteristics or properties from an outer surface to an inner surface. For example, different types, numbers or densities of threads, or different fabric densities may be used in different plies to achieve a gradient. Such a gradient allows a single, three-dimensionally bonded multi-ply fabric to provide several different protective properties. An outside surface coating of silicone or polymers such as polytetrafluroethylene or ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene may be applied on an outer surface of the fabric to further improve its protective properties.

Multi-ply textile fabric especially for protection suits and the like

A fuel for use independently of atmospheric air by reaction with an oxidizer, has a metal hydride as a solid fuel component mixed into an inert liquid fuel component and 1.5 to 5.0 weight percent of a stearate as part of the solid fuel component. The liquid fuel component is preferably an easy flowing paraffin into which the stearate and the solid fuel component are mixed to form a liquified fuel that will react with a liquid oxidizer. The mixing is preferably performed at a temperature above 100.degree. C. and at a reduced pressure less than 10.sup.5 Pa.

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Oldenburg, Germany

Joerg Hartmanns