Massif, in partnership with the Military Fabrics Division of W. L. Gore & Associates, announces the commercial introduction of Massif® Battleshield™ and Massif Battleshield X™ fabrics, two revolutionary new nylon-faced, flame resistant, water resistant laminates for the military and tactical markets. Nylon garments have a long history of field-proven outdoor performance, yet have never before provided adequate flame resistance. Massif Battleshield and Battleshield X fabrics offer a shift in FR protection by combining filament nylon-faced laminates with exceptional FR protection.
Massif Battleshield and Battleshield X fabrics provide excellent durability, water resistance, breathability, flame protection, stretch, and warmth-to-weight ratio. There is simply nothing like the Battleshield fabrics on the market; they perform as well as other non-FR outdoor fabric in the industry and provide exceptional flame protection.
Massif Battleshield and Battleshield X feature GORE® FR stretch technology, which dramatically increases breathability while simultaneously improving water repellency and water entry pressure. The result is an extremely durable, highly breathable fabric with a superior warmth-to-weight ratio that is very water resistant and fully flame resistant.
"Gore has played a pivotal role in providing best in class durable, breathable and environmentally protective products to the U.S. military," says Mark Miller, Product Specialist at Gore. "We are excited to be working with Massif and bringing this product line to the warfighting community. Unlike any other flame-resistant, water resistant softshell fabrics, Massif Battleshield and Battleshield X fabrics featuring GORE® FR stretch technology compete with the very best technical performance softshell fabrics on the market today."
Over the past year, every branch of the United States military has been evaluating either Massif Battleshield or Battleshield X fabrics. "We're getting some very exciting feedback from our military partners," said Dave Bywater, Vice President of Government Sales at Massif. "It's gratifying to be able to provide garments and fabrics that increase comfort and durability, improve life cycle costs, and provide the best flash-fire protection possible for our soldiers."
Some of the key benefits of Massif Battleshield and Massif Battleshield X fabrics are:
- Breathability/Comfort — With unsurpassed breathability, Massif Battleshield and Massif Battleshield X fabrics can dramatically increase the warfighter's overall comfort. In high-activity situations Massif's unique fabrics, in combination with Gore's breathable, stretch membrane, reduce overheating and chilling from moisture retention and reduces user fatigue, ultimately keeping soldiers dryer, safer, and more effective in a wider range of situations and temperatures.
- Durability -—The nylon face fabric of Massif Battleshield and Massif Battleshield X fabrics provide superior durability when compared to traditional FR fabrics on the market today. In fact, for its weight, Battleshield is likely the most durable FR fabric on the market today. This extreme durability can significantly reduce life cycle costs as compared to other FR materials.
- Weather Protection/Water Resistance — Massif Battleshield and Massif Battleshield X fabrics provide exceptional water resistance by combining Gore's breathable, stretch membrane with a technically superior face fabric that will not absorb or retain water as with conventional cellulosic-based fabrics.
- Stretch/Functionality — With multidirectional stretch, a key feature of any high- quality outdoor garment, Massif Battleshield and Massif Battleshield X fabrics offer excellent mobility and comfort.
- Flame Resistance/Burn Protection — These truly revolutionary synthetic fabrics have all of the benefits of high-quality outdoor softshell fabrics while meeting the stringent requirements of ASTM F2302/ASTM D6413 and showing extremely low Burn Injury Prediction when tested on a manikin per ASTM F1930.
Massif will begin using Massif Battleshield and Massif Battleshield X fabrics in its Massif® Elements™ Tactical Jacket. Plans for using these fabrics in US military and tactical garments are underway.
