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New Metal Foam Armor Obliterates Bullets To Dust On Impact (discovery.com)

HughPickens.com writes: Discovery Magazine reports that researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a super strong armor material that literally turns bullets to dust upon impact. The armor plating is made in part from composite metal foams, or CMFs, which are both lighter and stronger than traditional metal plating used in body and vehicle armor. The armor -- only an inch thick -- features a ceramic strike face, Kevlar backing, and CMFs in the energy-absorbing middle layer. "We could stop the bullet at a total thickness of less than an inch, while the indentation on the back was less than 8 millimeters," says Afsaneh Rabiei. "To put that in context, the NIJ standard allows up to 44 millimeters indentation in the back of an armor." CMFs are very effective at shielding X-rays, gamma rays and neutron radiation. Other applications include space exploration and shipping nuclear waste which both require a material to be not only light and strong, but also capable of withstanding extremely high temperatures and blocking radiation. A video shows a 7.62 x 63 millimeter M2 armor-piercing projectile that was fired using standard testing procedures established by the Department of Justice for evaluating armor types.

3 of 93 comments (clear)

  1. S.S.D.D by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    "The use of airborne attacks had all bit ceased by the middle of the 21st century due to advances in anti-aircraft and anti-missile technology. Highly accurate, fast aiming laser or coil gun AA sites, coupled with the latest in anti-stealth radar/IR/laser detection systems, meant that most aircraft or missiles would never get close to their targets.

    This means most battles are now fought on the ground. Due to fullerene armour making most weapons obsolete, most of the fighting today is men in suits of armour bashing each other over the head with hammers.

    Oh how far we have come."

  2. Re:Batman by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Isn't that what Robin is for?

  3. Pfffffffffft by JustAnotherOldGuy · · Score: 3, Funny

    Not good enough. A foot-thick plate of this stuff still wouldn't protect me from my ex-wife's "Stare Of Death".

    That bitch could galvanize a battleship with just a look. You guys know the look I'm talking about.

    --
    Just cruising through this digital world at 33 1/3 rpm...