Automatically Hardening Body Armor

Posted by John Farrier in Science & Tech on November 19, 2010 at 2:30 pm

Deflexion, developed by Dow Corning, is a material that is normally soft. When something hits it, the material instantly hardens, and then returns to its previous flexibility. So far, it’s being used to make body armor for athletes, such as motorcycle riders and rodeo competitors. Dow Corning says:

It can be stylishly incorporated into a garment such as a base layer shirt, it can be designed to create protective equipment, like a soccer shin guard, or it can be incorporated into protective cases for delicate equipment. Because this high performance fabric is flexible, it can be cut and sewn directly into clothing, eliminating the need to insert uncomfortable padding. It can be layered, so garments can be customized with increased levels of protection for specific areas.

Link via DVICE | Image: Dow Corning, Screenshot: Core77

 
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Inflatable Concrete and Other Innovations in Materials Science

Posted by John Farrier in Pictures, Science & Tech on November 30, 2009 at 9:46 am

The Medium Awards is an annual materials sciences recognition program in the UK. Cliff Kuang of Fast Company has a slideshow of seven winners, including a carbon fiber alternative made from carrots, a sponge that absorbs oil but not water, and a very lightweight substitute for kevlar. Pictured above is an inflatable tent made from concrete-embedded cloth. Just add water, and it turns into a hardened structure.

Link | Photo: Concrete Canvas

 
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