AFRL PHOTOS

AFRL eyes development of next-generation textile for DAF uniforms

Dr. Heather Jay Huson, animal geneticist and associate professor at Cornell University, stands at pasture with two adult muskoxen at the Palmer Muskox Farm in Palmer, Alaska. Huson has humanely collected biological DNA samples from a herd of domesticated muskoxen housed at the farm for her own research purposes for more than 15 years. Through a contract with the Air Force Research Laboratory, or AFRL, Huson provided samples of raw muskox wool to researchers in AFRL’s Materials and Manufacturing Directorate, who tested the material to establish that its thermal insulating properties are comparable to merino wool. Researchers in AFRL’s Biomaterials branch and the 711th Human Performance Wing are currently testing a process known as electrospinning to blend synthetic muskox wool keratins with preexisting polymer materials, such as nylon, to create an alternative textile that is lighter, more breathable, and more environmentally sustainable for future use in U.S. Department of the Air Force uniforms. (Courtesy photo/ Cornell University)

PHOTO BY: Courtesy photo / Cornell University
VIRIN: 230504-F-JC276-0038.JPG
FULL SIZE: 2.24 MB
Additional Details

CAMERA

iPhone 4S

LENS

iPhone 4S back camera 4.28mm f/2.4

APERTURE

12/5

SHUTTERSPEED

1/394

ISO

50

IMAGE IS PUBLIC DOMAIN

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This photograph is considered public domain and has been cleared for release. If you would like to republish please give the photographer appropriate credit. Further, any commercial or non-commercial use of this photograph or any other DoD image must be made in compliance with guidance found at https://www.dimoc.mil/resources/limitations, which pertains to intellectual property restrictions (e.g., copyright and trademark, including the use of official emblems, insignia, names and slogans), warnings regarding use of images of identifiable personnel, appearance of endorsement, and related matters.