The U.S. Marine Corps developed a new combat utility uniform containing a new cotton and nylon blend. WarmKraft, Inc., a Mississippi-based company, approached The University of Southern Mississippi to develop a permanent-press treatment for the new Marine uniforms. Southern Miss developed a novel agricultural-based waterborne latex that is manufactured by Southern Diversified Products (SDP) and incorporated into Warmkraft's process to produce permanent-press uniforms.
Marine Corps Commander, Gen. Jim Jones, was extremely pleased with the new permanent press treated uniforms since they look freshly pressed right out of the dryer. WarmKraft is now able to outfit our American soldiers with this new permanent press material at a rate of 12,000 uniforms a week.
Special acknowledgement: This material is based upon work supported by the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), under Cooperative Agreement Nos. 91-38202-5928 and 2001-38202-10424.