D30

[youngnutter]

As a long time fan of Larry Niven I was bamboozled when I found this. At first thinking that this must be someones idea of a wikipedia joke but no it seems to be genuine. The concept of Impact Armor created in or around 1970 one more step towards real?

From wikipedia - Ringworld.

Impact armor, a flexible form of clothing that hardens instantly into a rigid form stronger than steel when rapidly deformed (for example, by the impact of a projectile such as a bullet).

From the D30 website

d3o technology is a specially engineered material with intelligent molecules that flow with you as you move but on shock lock together to absorb impact energy.

For more reading http://www.d3o.com/

 

[alec]

This is actually a thing that has been known for ages. The fluids are so-called non-Newtonian fluids that act like fluids when you manipulate them gently, yet act as solids when stress is applied.

A mixture of cornstarch and water is, for instance, a non-Newtonian fluid.

Some wacky "experiments" with cornstarch and water mixtures, can be viewed here.

 

[Tagaziel]

Impact armor, a flexible form of clothing that hardens instantly into a rigid form stronger than steel when rapidly deformed (for example, by the impact of a projectile such as a bullet).

So, when running I may suddenly have a sheet strong as steel under my arm? Also, how instant is instant?

 

[SuAside]

uhu, it is already being used in some bodyarmor, but isn't as effective as regular kevlar+plate armor or dragonscale stuff (yet).

 

[mirdza]

so what would happen if I had a gun loaded with bullets made of that d30 engineered material with intelligent molecules and fire it into someone wearing an armor made of also of it?

 

[youngnutter]

The levels of my own ignorance become steadily more apparent after i spend a bit more time digging through other liquid armour projects which leads back to power armor and on to other things like the thor shield and non lethal weapons.

Until you know something a little you really don't know what you didn't know and then after a while you realise that the more you know about it then the less you actually really know. You know?

Muchos thanks for the links. Always nice to see some practical uses of science.

The Cornstarch Monster reminded me of Tetsuo in his Blob form.