Sheer-thickening liquid hardens on impact, could spark next gen body armour
Scientists at BAE Systems in Bristol have come up with a “shear-thickening” liquid that can be combined with Kevlar to create a new more powerful bullet-proof material, for security jobs and armed personnel. Similar to the “body armor” used by some Olympic skiers, the shear-thickening material acts as a lubricant at low velocities, but quickly hardens upon impact. The scientists describe it as “bullet-proof custard,” which shouldn’t make us hungry but is for some reason.
According to BAE, recent tests in which a large gas gun fired metal projectiles at over 300 meters / second into both thirty-one layers of untreated kevlar and ten layers of kevlar combined with the liquid have determined that the liquid armor could be used to effectively protect soldiers from bullets and shrapnel.
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I’d rather have that than the crappy plates shipped to troops now.
waaaw very impressive one
Does this material act as a shock absorber too?
I would imagine it can be integrated alongside a silicone based material, much like some smartphone cases, although I’m not confident in itself it would act as an ample shock absorber.
How much pressure would be needed, would full body weight make it harden or would it have to be fast and instant
Full body weight wouldn’t do a thing, unless you hit it as hard as you could. Image it a little bit like water; water is the softest thing on earth, unless you fall on it from a great height, then it is like concrete.
Nice Work