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Bomb-Proof Wallpaper Developed

Posted by samzenpus on from the radiation-shielding-curtains dept.

MikeChino writes "Working in partnership with the US Army Corp of Engineers, Berry Plastics has rolled out a new breed of bomb-proof wallpaper. Dubbed the X-Flex Blast Protection System, the wallpaper is so effective that a single layer can keep a wrecking ball from smashing through a brick wall, and a double layer can stop blunt objects (i.e. a flying 2×4) from knocking down drywall. According to its designers, covering an entire room takes less than an hour."

9 of 388 comments (clear)

  1. Idle? by incognito84 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Why is this considered idle? It seems like very promising and useful technology.

    1. Re:Idle? by Rick+the+Red · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Seems like this would be a best seller in tornado alley.

      --
      If all this should have a reason, we would be the last to know.
    2. Re:Idle? by MrMista_B · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Because the editors are trying to scam you into thinking Idle isn't the craphole it really is.

    3. Re:Idle? by Garridan · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Probably because it was a nearly content-free "article" that had a short video clip of some shit getting smashed. Not complaining. It's a huge improvement for "idle"... but there it is.

      However, I seriously doubt that this material would actually protect a house from much. The impact from the wrecking ball broke the brick, and the "paper" held it together. But what happens when you put a roof on, and you set up the bomb? First, your doors and windows are still just as fragile... and if the impact is as strong as the wrecking ball, the entire front of the house loses structural integrity, and caves in. Suddenly, the roof doesn't have enough support, so down it comes on your head.

  2. Wallpaper anchored in demo by Concerned+Onlooker · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Well, it certainly looks interesting, but in the video the wallpaper was anchored very securely at the top and bottom of the test wall. I'd like to see how it does with only the sticky backing of the product itself keeping it on the wall.

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    http://www.rootstrikers.org/
  3. Re:Forget bombs, think hurricanes and tornados! by Jane+Q.+Public · · Score: 4, Insightful

    The Mythbusters pretty much put that one to rest. Pressure differential (closed vs. open windows for example) makes almost no difference at all.

    What raises the roof is simply the shape of the roof. It causes lift that pulls it off the house. (Yes, that is a pressure differential, but not in the sense most people mean.) It is not interior pressure blowing the roof off, nor massive negative pressure outside "sucking" the roof off. It is simple aerodynamic lift.

  4. Embed in concrete by handy_vandal · · Score: 4, Insightful

    How about embedding kevlar-web in concrete? As a building technique generally. Earthquake resistance?

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    -kgj
  5. Re:Go big or lose your wall by wish+bot · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Come on guys - it's physics.

    This material is great in tension - that's it. If you 'bend' a material, the surface closest the the force goes into compression, and the surface away from the force goes into tension. How do you strengthen a wall? Increase the compressive strength of the surface closest outside, or increase the tensile strength of the surface on the inside. Put this stuff on the inside, smack the outside with a wreaking ball, and whatdoyouknow - the wall stands up.

    I'm not saying that this isn't cool, but it's not unique - thinking composite materials here. Laminated glass does this kind of thing easily for example, when using the right kinds of laminates.

    --
    lemonade was a popular drink and it still is
  6. Demonstration very misleading... by gooneybird · · Score: 4, Insightful

    That demonstration is very misleading.

    Observe that the material is not actually fastened to the wall, rather is is anchored to the top of the wall and the bottom of the wall (look at the piece of angle iron in the demo)

    This angle iron also distributes the force across the material, without it, it would just rip out where it was anchored, such as if just screws were used to attach it. I would bet that that piece of angle iron is pretty well tightened...

    If it were truly fastened as wallpaper, then it may prevent the wall from shattering, however the wall would still collapse where the material stopped unless anchored (as in the demo). Hence, instead of pieces of a wall falling on you, the entire wall would just fall on you, probably killing you...

    And yes, the rest of the structure would still collapse on you as well.

    This is probably an advance, however it probably would require new structural building techniques, as well as additional steel anchors/angle iron for it to be truly effective. Not something joe public could ever afford, but I am sure governments could "find" the money.....