Military to use new gel that stops bullets

mattheman · 27 Feb 2009 at 18:08

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/new...litary-to-use-new-gel-that-stops-bullets.html

InvaderGIR · 27 Feb 2009 at 18:09

Isn't it just an uber version of silly putty?

Greenlizard0 · 27 Feb 2009 at 18:09

Pft, they should be using The Force :rolleyes:

thecremeegg · 27 Feb 2009 at 18:10

InvaderGIR said:
Isn't just an uber version of silly putty?

Can you use it to make bubbles that pop with a fart noise? That is the crucial question!

Repta · 27 Feb 2009 at 18:10

Read about this a couple years ago, there was plans for it to be in their clothing as well. Probabley want to see how good it is first

sidthesexist · 27 Feb 2009 at 18:11

Video here on the BBC BBC i believe they state that it can't stop bullets but does have other uses?

mattheman · 27 Feb 2009 at 18:12

well they could create a slow motion bullet.

Andr3w · 27 Feb 2009 at 18:13

i wouldn't feel safe wearing that

Repta · 27 Feb 2009 at 18:14

sidthesexist said:
Video here on the BBC BBC i believe they state that it can't stop bullets but does have other uses?

It will slow the bullet down though. Body armour doesnt always stop bullets either. Just an extra layer of protection really

mattheman · 27 Feb 2009 at 18:16

Repta said:
It will slow the bullet down though. Body armour doesnt always stop bullets either. Just an extra layer of protection really

how heavy is it?

Glaucus · 27 Feb 2009 at 18:17

Soldiers should have exoskeletons by now

.. Then bulky armour wouldn't be a problem. Stupid government keeping the price of war down.

Repta · 27 Feb 2009 at 18:18

mattheman said:
how heavy is it?

i havent a clue, just read a big article about it several years ago. Think it was in the telegraph or what ever newspaper BMI where giving out free at the time.

jr1104 · 27 Feb 2009 at 18:28

I wrote a small report on this a couple of years ago while doing Engineering A level. It won't stop bullets, but it is useful for replacing current pieces of body armour that are solid, such as knee and elbow protectors. Its flexibility means that the soldier will have more movement on his/her limbs, but if they fall or take a blow, it will harden and act the same as a solid protector. Its uses are also being looked into for body armour in snow/skate boarding

Scythe · 27 Feb 2009 at 18:32

jr1104 said:
I wrote a small report on this a couple of years ago while doing Engineering A level. It won't stop bullets, but it is useful for replacing current pieces of body armour that are solid, such as knee and elbow protectors. Its flexibility means that the soldier will have more movement on his/her limbs, but if they fall or take a blow, it will harden and act the same as a solid protector. Its uses are also being looked into for body armour in snow/skate boarding

Yep, did a presentation/report on it for A level Physics a few months ago. Very good material and can't be a bad thing that the MOD is investing in new materials.

IcE-ColD · 27 Feb 2009 at 18:39

Delvis · 27 Feb 2009 at 18:41

Hm.....seems odd....Surely if you use it as a knee protector, you'll go down on you're knees (diving for instance...) It solidifies..then what? It de-solidifies or?

Defcon5 · 27 Feb 2009 at 18:41

Once it hardens, does it stay hard or does it go soft again?

IcE-ColD · 27 Feb 2009 at 18:43

Goes soft again. Only goes hard if anything hits it with great speed.

sidthesexist · 27 Feb 2009 at 18:43

Goes soft again iirc? only hardens upon impact

Tefal · 27 Feb 2009 at 18:44

it;s just cornflour and water, with some orange food dye!!