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Building Better Body Armor With Nanofoams

Posted by samzenpus on from the protect-ya-neck dept.

Zothecula writes "Given that scientists are already looking to sea sponges as an inspiration for body armor, perhaps we shouldn't be surprised that foam is also being considered ... not just any foam, though. Unlike regular foam, specially-designed nanofoams could someday not only be used in body armor, but also to protect buildings from explosions."

3 of 74 comments (clear)

  1. No real details about these... by Lumpy · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I would LOVE for them to figure out a better foam for armor for us motorcyclists. Right now we have standard polymer foams in our armor, but I would love some effective stuff that is thinner fill in the non impact points for extra protection. Right now I have thick CE rated foam armor in impact locations that also has kevlar on the outside, but I would love to have a reactive foam for a backboard that is flexible normally but solidifies into a backboard when the texting bimbo in the minivan runs me off the road and I come off the bike.

    Current motorcycle armor is effective, but it could be better.

    --
    Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
    1. Re:No real details about these... by 1369IC · · Score: 3, Interesting

      These things tend to make their way into industry, but it'll take a while. ARO funding university work is usually a first step in the process, but at the end, if it works out, it gets transitioned to industry in one form or fashion. For example, flexible display research started out with Army funding and there was a consortium with universities and industry. Here's a story. You can see they started working on it in '04, the article is from '08 and they're not at Best Buy just yet. Full disclosure: The Army Research Office is part of the Army Research Lab, which is part of the command I work in, the Research, Development and Engineering Command. We taxpayers fund a lot of research.

  2. Re:How many licks does it take to get to the cente by wonkey_monkey · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Wouldn't this foam work better if the empty spaces were filled with a compressible liquid?

    How about gas?

    What do you think the "empty" space in a foam is filled with?

    --
    systemd is Roko's Basilisk.