5 ms·
Forget about Kevlar: Liquid Body Armor Hardens on Impact
- pygy_ 15y agoNon-Newtonian fluidics is at work here [0]. If you want to try it at home, mix cornstash with water (roughly 2 to 1) and create an Oobleck [1]. Guaranteed success with kids (and adults who remained young at heart). [0] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-newtonian_fluid http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-newtonian_fluid [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-newtonian_fluid#Oobleck http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-newtonian_fluid#Oobleck , http://www.google.fr/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CEcQtwIwAQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DYp1wUodQgqQ&ei=Gtd-T7vYIo-XhQefhrS7Bw&usg=AFQjCNHSC5eRptPCPrY72fG9FnSC5wUa7w&sig2=7Vjz3jJh1V1KfqOd-LWHaQ http://www.google.fr/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s... , http://www.google.fr/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&ved=0CE4QtwIwAg&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DyHlAcASsf6U&ei=Gtd-T7vYIo-XhQefhrS7Bw&usg=AFQjCNHRJVW9YlV37CefPKBWT2ENJDxz4Q&sig2=Ri-PMfdi1jSyTOFPwzOQaw http://www.google.fr/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s... , http://www.google.fr/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&ved=0CFUQtwIwAw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.metacafe.com%2Fwatch%2F371779%2Fthe_amazing_oobleck%2F&ei=Gtd-T7vYIo-XhQefhrS7Bw&usg=AFQjCNGZ1_tBwJNc1BHZzX5obv4eI0t5kg&sig2=lJ6wkxs2i39o5zZ6Mh6OHQ http://www.google.fr/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s...
- dbbolton 15y ago"Cornstarch in water" was my first thought when reading this title, thanks to 7th grade science class.
- AzAngel 15y agoSame here, but thanks to Mythbusters in my case.
- FreeFull 15y agoAnother example of a non-newtonian fluid (Except, in this case, shear-thinning instead of shear-thickening) would be ketchup.
- pygy_ 14y agoIt explains some kitchen accidents... * Tilts the bottle It doesn't come out. * Taps the bottom Still nothing. * Tap tap tap... Nope. * TAP! Ketchup ocean in my plate...
- ORioN63 15y agoIt's actually quite old, the idea of using liquids as a body armor. The problem with implementation was the weight of the liquids. From this article, it has appeared that the problem was solved, since they mention that is a lot lighter and provides more freedom of movement.
- Jtsummers 15y agohttp://news.discovery.com/tech/winter-olympics-body-armor.html http://news.discovery.com/tech/winter-olympics-body-armor.ht... Being used for skiers and mentions its use in body armor at the time (2010). I'm pretty sure I read an earlier article than that one as well, perhaps from 2006 or so but I can't find it. I can't tell from this new article if they've improved the fluid, or the method of application to kevlar is the novel part.
- khafra 15y agoI have a few-years-old pair of d3o motorcycling gloves; from the company that made the skier armor. It's not interwoven with kevlar, and I haven't "tested" it; but they have been around for quite a while.
- Spikefu 15y agoMaybe you're thinking of D3o (http://www.d3o.com/ http://www.d3o.com/), which has been around since 2005 or so.
- moylan 15y agofirst i saw about non newtonian liquids was a british science entertainment show. and about a year afterwards they began talking about using the same as armour. just stuck in my mind as the kids show came first. from 2003. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkS1ymQ73oc&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JkS1ymQ73oc&feature=relat... from 2004. http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/science-fiction-news.asp?newsnum=108 http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/science-fiction-news.asp?newsn...
- eslachance 15y agoQuestion: If it hardens when it is disturbed, does it mean that it hardens if the wearer runs, for example? This would mean you still can't properly armor joints...
- tocomment 15y agoI think the more force (or acceleration?) it undergoes the more it hardens. So hopefully running wouldn't affect it, but a fast moving projectile would. Have a good day.
- Retric 15y ago500+MPH impacts are vary different than simple joint movements. Think of it like this, if you slowly move your hand though water you don't feel any resistance, jump off a bridge and hit it at 100MPH and the stuff might as well be concrete.
- icegreentea 15y agoShear thickening fluids have a non-linear relationship between shear rate and shear stress. Schematically, it's the green line in this graph [1]. By choosing your material carefully, you can minimize shear stress at 'running' speeds, and then sharply ramp it up to protect against faster projectiles. [1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Shear_rate_vs._Shear_stress.png http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Shear_rate_vs._Shear_stres...
- eslachance 14y agoThanks for all the answers everyone, I get it now :)
- rubyruy 15y agoGood... the slow blade penetrates the shield... but look down. We'd have joined each other in death. However, you did seem to finally get in the mood.
- metatronscube 15y agoFor the Dune reference! :)
- FreeFull 15y agoI don't think kevlar protects against blades either
- marknutter 15y agoReminds me of the armor in Dune.
- newman314 15y agoThe article does not show what the name of this new product is that I can find. D3o has been out for a while and some of the videos are really impressive. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D3o https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D3o
- georgieporgie 15y agoI remember a Larry Niven fan in high school excitedly explaining the concept of armor that hardens on impact. http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/content.asp?Bnum=927 http://www.technovelgy.com/ct/content.asp?Bnum=927