Researchers are starting to unravel an increasing array of attributes and properties wool has to offer, from its stand out biodegradability in a world drowning in plastic to proteins suitable for pet food and even out-of-this-world solutions.
Now wool’s fire retardant ability is offering Auckland firm Lanaco what might be its smallest but highest-profile order.
The American space agency NASA is developing the Orion spacecraft for deep space exploration, aimed at carrying up to four astronauts possibly as far afield as a manned mission to Mars.
“As we speak NASA is trialling our Helix filter at the Johnson Space Centre in Houston,” chief executive Nick Davenport, a materials applications scientist, said.
The Helix is based on wool from the company’s purpose-bred Astino sheep and is intended to be used as a pre-filter in the Orion space capsule’s fire control system.
“We are confident the Helix filter can deliver on NASA’s requirements.”
Fire in a space capsule is astronauts’ greatest fear.
“The only way you can put it out is with water.
“However, after a fire is out the capsule’s atmosphere is full of molten plastics and particles that will clog filters.
“The Helix is designed to remove those hot particles and moisture before they kill the astronauts by clogging up the life-support systems.”
The technology is an offshoot of the company’s anti-pollution face masks that have become popular in Asian cities.
The use of natural wool fibre has proved to increase the easy-breathing nature of the masks while also offering a superior level of particulate filtration.
The wool’s natural bacteriostatic fibre also means, unlike synthetic materials, wool’s ability to lower moisture levels makes it harder for bacteria to breed in the masks so they are healthier to use for longer.
But in space the challenges multiply when it comes to keeping the environment safe and the natural fibre resistance of the Helix filter makes it even more suitable, given the typically flammable nature of all other filters used on the craft.
“You do not see spontaneously combusting sheep.
“Wool will not support a flame compared to all synthetics used that only add to the fire. It won’t melt, clog or burn.”
The wool filter’s ability to continue functioning after such a catastrophic event hundreds of kilometres above Earth means it could well be the last functioning component between the astronauts and certain death.
Davenport emphasised the technology behind the filter is not particularly new but the combination of features for such a demanding environment mean it is a strong candidate.
“In a way it is almost a reverse of the Teflon concept.
“Teflon was a product that came out of the space race technology and became used in everyday life for non-stick surfaces.
“This is the other way around, technology coming from everyday use to be used in space.”
He said Lanaco was found by NASA with a “dream email” received one day from a technology scouting company in New York.
“We sent Shaun Tan, our head of technology, up to the Johnson Space Centre with samples and the trials on all the properties are under way.”
Landing a NASA contract was a huge endorsement for the company and had the entire design and research team excited about the prototype filters.
“But it is also a huge endorsement for wool itself.
“It will be our smallest order but will have a huge impact on the perceptions and applications for wool into the future.”
But nor was it entirely by accident the wool filter works the way it does.
Davenport said more than five years of intensive research and breeding went into developing the Astino breed.
The breed has twin objectives of 200% lambing and good carcase composition alongside wool that has optimal fibre properties for filtration.
They includes delivering a highly consistent fibre length.
Otago sheep breeder Andy Ramsden oversees the breeding programme and flock numbers are approaching 2000 head.
Samples have been taken off every animal bred and filters made to determine the wool’s effectiveness from each particular sheep.
“These sheep offer the wool for our flagship Helix filter products but we also make other filters from generic coarse wool too.”
Davenport said early indications are the Helix filter is performing well at Houston, in a culture that has become intensely safety conscious.
“It has been a very rigorous process. They do not want another Columbia type disaster.”
