Replace Kevlar body armor with armor comprised of hexagonal cells of silly putty covered in an aramid fiber to prevent penetration. We all know that silly putty shatters upon high-velocity impact(due to the dynamic boron-mediated crosslinks), in theory the shattering silly putty will bear the brunt of the destructive force of the bullet. The cell will re-form within a few minutes and be ready to be shot again. Mix with one bullet, and try not to die!
-- whatastrangeperson, Mar 07 2004

Ballistic Putty http://www.straight...target/btputty.html
This type used to stop pellets in competitive target shooting pellet traps. [bristolz, Oct 04 2004, last modified Oct 05 2004]

I think you'll find that modern armor does rely on this kind of property, but silly putty is not something you want to put between yourself and an incoming missile.
-- DrCurry, Mar 07 2004


The basic notion exists, albeit not in personal body armor. There is a substance known as “ballistic putty” which is used to stop projectiles at the back of bullet and pellet traps in target shooting as well as in crime labs for test firings.
-- bristolz, Mar 07 2004


Not only can you get past many levels of security but you can also copy sensitive documents and comics.
-- sartep, Mar 07 2004


Sorry, I'm talking about the silly putty.
-- sartep, Mar 08 2004


Ahah! self fragmenting armour! You'd be better filling it with custard.
-- unclepete, Mar 08 2004


If someone hits you with a rolled-up newspaper, not only are you protected but you can read it later.
-- phundug, Mar 08 2004


Dammit, Marmaduke!
-- Mr Burns, Mar 08 2004


arrrrggghhhhhhh custard! Why is it always custard?!?!
-- echo, Mar 08 2004


[DrCurry] "...but silly putty is not something you want to put between yourself and an incoming missile." marketing is everything, and if it doesn't work, Caveat Emptor.
-- whatastrangeperson, Mar 08 2004


what is it with you people and custard?!?!?!?!?!?!!?!?
-- whatastrangeperson, Mar 09 2004


halfbakery users are fond of custard because it is known to absorb extraneous punctuation marks.
-- swamilad, Mar 09 2004


I always liked the idea of body armor made with a non-newtonian fluid. It's flexible for comfort when not being shot at, but when hit essentially turns into a solid, distributing the force of the bullet over your entire body. Unfortunately, cornstarch and water (the substance I had in mind when I came up with this idea) can't actually stop a bullet without shattering like silly putty.

Now I've heard that the non-newtonian fluid works because fibers in the fluid can move slowly, but get tangled up when they try to move too fast. So what if we could make a non-newtonian fluid that has kevlar fibers instead of cornstarch fibers?

Of course there was the other slight detail of how to create the armor in such a way that the fluid doesn't all flow to the bottom. Dividing it into separate cells isn't any good because then the force is only distributed over each cell, not the entire armor.
-- scad mientist, Mar 10 2004


the fludid running to the bottom is a simple one. you just make the internal limiting cell walls strong enough to withstand wear and tere but breakable on impact.

I like many of you, I had this very same theory. However, I thought about adding a suspension of synthetic diamonds (highly practical). This, again, to add more lightweight energy absorbtion, deflection and dispersion. Kevlar putey needs to be made! I don't think custard will be up to it.
-- Instine, Apr 09 2004


The ARL has used rheopectic suspensions combined with woven aramid layers to improve ballistic performance - I think they worked with University of Delaware on it. Replacing the Kevlar with silly putty and then adding Kevlar to prevent penetration certainly is a novel approach. Might also leave a little too much momentum with the bullet too and have a problem with it ripping through the armour and one's soft parts.
-- AlanS, Aug 29 2004


Look up the phrase "interface defeat". It's all about having a brittle substance as the impact plate. It absorbs a large ammount of energy by shattering, and then the abblated material erodes the projectile down to nothing as it passes through. It's all the latest craze in tank armour.
-- Custardguts, Dec 31 2008



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