Antimicrobial Coating Protects Field Hospitals

Nanotechnology is being used to modify the fabric of tents, coating the inside surface with miniscule spikes that rupture bacterial cell walls.

The XYTEX 500 coating significantly impedes the growth of both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, offering 99.99% protection against disease-causing microorganisms that come in contact with it. The nanoscale spikes lie on the fabric surface, puncturing the cell walls of invading microbes, piercing cell membranes, and ultimately killing them. The purpose of the coating is to help mitigate field hygiene and sanitation challenges, contributing to the overall well-being of end-users by giving them a cleaner and healthier environment to work or rest in the field.


XYTEX 500 is also fire retardant, water repellent, and is resistant to abrasion and to ultra-violet rays. It also guards against algae, yeast, fungi, and black mold, enabling the shelter to stay cleaner between scheduled routine maintenance or when in storage after a deployment. Unlike common antimicrobials, XYTEX 500 is not a temporary disinfectant and will not dissipate over time; it is permanent. There is no visible trace on the fabric, offering the same look and feel as other non-antimicrobial covers, and the technology is environmentally friendly. XYTEX 500 is a product of DHS Technologies (Orangeburg, NY, USA), and is designed for the company’s line of deployable rapid assembly shelter (DRASH) products.

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DHS Technologies