Scientists at the UK’s Defence Science Technology Laboratory (DSTL) are working on developing a strippable paint coating that would decontaminate itself after absorbing chemical agents.

LONDON – Scientists at the UK’s Defence Science Technology Laboratory (DSTL) are working on developing a strippable paint coating that would decontaminate itself after absorbing chemical agents.

Currently, strippable coatings are used on military vehicles to quickly change the color of vehicles. DSTL is evaluating the coatings for use in decontamination and is researching the next generation of coatings, which will be able to absorb chemical, biological and radiological agents, protecting those operating inside and around the vehicle. Further down the line, DSTL is looking at reactive coatings that would contain catalysts and possibly enzymes in order to create self-decontaminating coatings.

Steven Mitchell, a DSTL Research Scientist leading the work on strippable coatings said, “Ultimately, what we’d like to create is a coating that changes color to indicate it’s been contaminated, decontaminates itself, then returns to the original color when it’s clean. This is a long-term but not an unreasonable ultimate objective.”