The barrier materials covered by this specification are intended for use in specialized military methods of preservation. The combination of all performance characteristics of MIL-PRF-81705; electromagnetic interference attenuation; electrostatic shielding; water vapor transmission rate; surface resistance; waterproofness; transparency; marking abrasion resistance; thickness; aging; seam strength and fabrication; breaking strength; puncture; blocking and curl resistance; contact corrosivity; delamination; water resistance of marking, provides the necessary requirements for protection from exposure to the extremes of the navy/naval aviation environment. Navy/naval aviation items are exposed to high moisture, high salt concentration, transfer at sea, rough handling, and minimal storage conditions. There are no commercial equivalents that meet the physical, mechanical, electrical and corrosion requirements necessary to protect materiel that is exposed to the operational naval aviation environment. Specifically, Specialized Method of Preservation, GX of MIL-STD-2073-1 uses MIL-PRF-81705 as the premier source of barrier materials that provide watervaporproof and electrostatic discharge protection for applicable items encountering the above conditions. MIL-PRF-81705 provides the building blocks for applying Electrostatic Discharge Protective techniques approved under MIL-STD-2073-1.

Type I use. Type I barrier material is intended for use for watervaporproof, electrostatic and electromagnetic protection of microcircuits and semiconductor devices, such as diodes, field effect transistors, and sensitive resistors.

Type III use. Type III barrier material is intended for use where a transparent, waterproof, electrostatic-protective and electrostatic field protective barrier is required. Use of type III material is limited to an intimate wrap or bag.

Class 1 use. Class 1 materials have no significant tendency to curl and could be heatsealed using hand operated heat-sealing equipment and automated heat-sealing equipment.

Class 2 use. Some Class 2 materials have a strong tendency to curl, but are suitable for automated heat-sealing equipment. Class 2 materials should not be sealed with hand operated equipment since this results in compromised heat-seals due to the difficulty in holding curling surfaces in the proper position by hand.