SAS soldiers kitted out in clothing made from new form of WOOL

Caitlin Clark, 22, is targeted in racist and misogynistic attack by Antonio Brown as she is forced to block ex-NFL player on social media - just hours after being questioned by 'pervert' reporter
Horrifying video shows brave disabled girl, 12, desperately trying to fight back after being pulled out of her wheelchair and beaten by cruel bully while her cackling accomplice films abuse at Orlando middle school
NYPD raid AOC's 'third world' district after shocking video showed trash-covered streets overrun by migrants running illegal 'flea market' - only for brazen vendors to return the next day
Young people cancer warning: Top GI oncologist says you should get a colonoscopy if you have these two symptoms, even if you're under 50
Woman's bleak conspiracy theory about the kinds of workers who will 'NEVER' get promoted is hailed as 'painfully true'
Traveler, 27, tests ALL major domestic airlines and private jet carriers in the US to create ultimate ranking in week-long saga that left him in TEARS - and revealed very surprising results
You DON'T need $1.5 million for a comfortable retirement: Financial planners say there is no 'magic number' for your 401(K) - here's the strategy you should focus on instead
Heartbreaking new details emerge about 10-year-old boy who took own life in Australia
Watch Ryan Garcia get into an X-rated exchange with an audience member at final press conference before Devin Haney fight... with troubled boxer's opponent remarking 'something's wrong with this motherf**ker'
Twelve jurors, one angry man: Defiant Don flicks through pages of articles saying the hush-money trial is a 'scam', slams not being able to campaign and calls court 'freezing' as full jury is seated
Time names Texas' no-nonsense Governor as one of the world's most 100 most influential people - and he says he's 'proud to build an even bigger state'
Drama from day three of Trump's trial: Jurors scared of being revealed, risk of jail over gag orders and quiet ex-president looking 'bored' and raging at 'freezing' courtroom
The furries are terrorizing us! Utah middle school students walk out of class in protest claiming teachers are allowing classmates in animal costumes to 'BITE, scratch and bark at them'
The perfect gift for stock tips! Nancy Pelosi will release a MEMOIR about being the first female House speaker in history
PICTURED: California mom, 40, died after falling 140 feet down a cliff during a hike at Bear Mountain with her husband
Meghan Markle models 'love like a mother' t-shirt as she laughs with Suits co-star Abigail Spencer and jam-reviewing friend Kelly Zajfen
The only affordable property in NYC! Four-bedroom abode for sale for $110,000... but there's a catch!
Drunk driver crashes into Las Vegas bus stop killing a 42-year-old and 14-year-old and leaving two kids, aged 8 and 11, with serious injuries
Inside a handsome teen's wild, four-day party before he was mysteriously found naked and dead on a lonely highway
Scientists uncover missing link between junk food and cancer - which could explain explosion of tumors in young people
'Don't waste your time': Netflix fans reveal the shows they gave up on after a few episodes
Children's gender clinic whistleblower tells Dr Phil patients were begging 'to have breasts put back on' and bosses told medics to 'keep silent' on de-transitioners
Billionaire philanthropist Hans Rausing loses his second wife Julia to cancer aged 63: Fresh heartbreak for Tetra Pak heir more than a decade after his first wife Eva died of cocaine abuse
Travis and Jason Kelce tease road trip to WREXHAM after soccer club's co-owner Rob McElhenney trolls NFL star over 'incredibly wrong' stereotype of Wales: 'I should show you around'

Company based in Derby has developed a superfine and strong wool
It has been snapped up by the Ministry of Defence for SAS soldiers
Material doesn't melt on skin when exposed to bullets or fire like synthetic

Published: 05:08 EDT, 24 October 2016 | Updated: 06:15 EDT, 24 October 2016

e-mail

108

View
comments

A British company has developed a superfine wool which has been snapped up by the Ministry of Defence for SAS soldiers battling on the front line.

Derbyshire based Armadillo Merino designs and manufactures next-to-skin protective clothing for astronauts, firefighters and special forces.

Founded by New Zealander Andy Caughey, 53, the company spins sheep wool into a special yarn which is just 17 microns thick - less than a quarter of the breadth of a singe human hair.

Derbyshire based Armadillo Merino designs and manufactures next-to-skin protective clothing for astronauts, firefighters and special forces including SAS soldiers

US police wearing Armadillo Merino are pictured training how to deal with petrol bombs

The resulting super-tough fabric has some astonishing properties.

It does not melt onto the skin like the synthetic materials usually worn by members of the armed forces during combat; as a natural fabric it does not release chemicals which are absorbed into the skin.

It also does not trap odours, meaning it can be worn for a week in extreme conditions without becoming smelly; and it manages moisture levels by dragging sweat away from the skin, making it perfect for athletes.

Armadillo Merino has recently won contracts to supply the SAS, Italian special forces, US police SWAT teams and Nasa.

Armadillo Merino has recently won contracts to supply the SAS, Italian special forces, US police SWAT teams and Nasa (pictured)

Founded by New Zealander Andy Caughey, 53, the company spins sheep wool into a special yarn which is just 17 microns thick - less than a quarter of the breadth of a singe human hair

The naturally flame resistant range of tops and leggings are ideal for those professionals operating in extreme weather or environments where there is the risk of fire or burns.

Mr Caughey, who grew up on a sheep farm, began developing the specialist fabric after hearing how synthetic materials worn by soldiers combust when exposed to bullets, shrapnel and fire - causing severe burns and leaving military personnel needing operations to remove the melted and dripping fabric from their flesh.

He told MailOnline that while synthetic materials melt at 160C, merino is flame resistant to 600C.

He said: 'I was living in the United States when I saw what IEDs were doing to soldiers.

The naturally flame resistant range of tops and leggings are ideal for those professionals operating in extreme weather or environments where there is the risk of fire or burns

'The heat of the explosions were melting the synthetic materials and causing unnecessary and extremely painful injuries as the material melted and dripped on to their skin.

'On top of that synthetic materials release chemicals on to your skin as you sweat, which then absorbs these toxins right into your body.

'I just thought, this is not right. We should be helping these people who aewe sacrificing their lives for us on the front line.

In 2014 Armadillo Merino's specialist t-shirts began being worn by NASA astronauts and Russian cosmonauts and the company clinched three contracts with the space agency to supply the specialist clothing.