Liquid body armor

[A-R]

Cool!

http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/04/ ... p=features" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Keith B]

Here is what the stuff is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dilatant" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

For those fans of The Big Bang Theory, think oobleck and the episode where they put the liquid mixture of cornstarch and water on the speaker and it went from liquid to a semi-solid state when stress was applied from the speaker. here is the clip. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eA1jSlx9c30" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

And yes, it IS pretty cool and a great application for it!

EDIT TO ADD: Here's a video on the application for body armour http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYIWfn2Jz2g" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[RoyGBiv]

http://science.howstuffworks.com/liquid-body-armor.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Beiruty]

sweet tech.

[RPB]

I'm working on my
... Master of Silly Putty Degree (MSP)
Here at Silly Putty U., we offer many degrees ...
http://www.sillyputty.com/finalexam_grad/degree.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Question 11.What kind of compound is Silly Putty?
A. Ectoplasmic
B. Dilatant
C. Vulcanized
D. Syncopated

[WildBill]

I'm working on my
... Master of Silly Putty Degree (MSP)
Here at Silly Putty U., we offer many degrees ...
http://www.sillyputty.com/finalexam_grad/degree.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Question 11.What kind of compound is Silly Putty?
A. Ectoplasmic
B. Dilatant
C. Vulcanized
D. Syncopated

C. I used to work with a guy who claimed that, while working at 3M, he invented silly putty. I didn't believe him. I thought his claim was silly.

[74novaman]

From the article:

When a bullet strikes, conventional body armor tends to bend inward, preventing death but often leaving considerable damage and pain. This wide dispersal of energy could prevent painful bruising, cracked or broken ribs and even trauma to internal organs that accompany being shot in the armor.

Could prevent painful bruising....right...

I bet it will be a lighter, more flexible armor. I also bet it would still hurt like the dickens to be shot while wearing the stuff...I just don't see all that energy being fully dispersed dispersed in the gel.

Neat technology though.

[Dave2]

From the article:

When a bullet strikes, conventional body armor tends to bend inward, preventing death but often leaving considerable damage and pain. This wide dispersal of energy could prevent painful bruising, cracked or broken ribs and even trauma to internal organs that accompany being shot in the armor.

Could prevent painful bruising....right...

I bet it will be a lighter, more flexible armor. I also bet it would still hurt like the dickens to be shot while wearing the stuff...I just don't see all that energy being fully dispersed dispersed in the gel.

Neat technology though.

Yeah, the surface they used to demo it in the video seemed geared towards demonstrating that it'd stop a knife, not a bullet.

[AdioSS]

this stuff is still in its infancy. A handgun bullet is going 10 times as fast as that arrow, but it is an improvement over what is out there now.

Here's an application for it that I haven't seen mentioned. They kept mentioning "lightweight" & stuff so it stays cool. I'm thinking that they could use the fluid to enhance that. Figure out a way to make the fluid circulate, or even somehow add a cooling system to it for usage in hot weather. At the same time they could easily add a heating element to make it more comfortable in cold climates.

[Dave2]

this stuff is still in its infancy. A handgun bullet is going 10 times as fast as that arrow, but it is an improvement over what is out there now.

That's what it's for, though. It blocks the stuff that'd get through a normal vest. I don't think they're intending it to replace Kevlar.