Posted October 26, 200717 yr http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44169000/jpg/_44169195_armour_usarmy_long.jpgA new type of carbon fibre, developed at the University of Cambridge, could be woven into super-strong body armour for the military and law enforcement. The researchers say their material is already several times stronger, tougher and stiffer than fibres currently used to make protective armour. The lightweight fibre, made up of millions of tiny carbon nanotubes, is starting to reveal exciting properties. Carbon nanotubes are hollow cylinders of carbon just one atom thick. The new material was developed by a group at the Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy at Cambridge. It has emerged from efforts to create the world's strongest man-made fibre. Super-strong body Armour in sight http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44169000/jpg/_44169123_nanotube_windle_203.jpg Made by folding over layers of graphite so they join at each end, forming a cylinder Measure just a few billionths of a metre across When pulled along their axes, are 5-10 times stronger than strongest known fibre Can have single walls or multiple walls www.bbcnews.com
October 26, 200717 yr been doing alot of work with the school of applied sciences at my university too..
October 26, 200717 yr Very, very cool. That looks great, however I wonder about body temps in that suit.
October 26, 200717 yr I wonder would it costs to manufacture. Hopefully it's something we can put on everyone.
October 26, 200717 yr It'll probably be way too costly to give one to every police officer/soldier for a very long time. I imagine that making fibers just one atom thick is a very expensive process. For now we have dragon skin, but the military won't let soldiers wear it even if they buy it with their own money
October 26, 200717 yr For now we have dragon skin, but the military won't let soldiers wear it even if they buy it with their own money Because it doesn't perform as well as what we give them. It's been proven time and time again. Dragon Skin is subpar.
October 27, 200717 yr what ever happened to suiting up in a white wife beater t-shirt Yeah no kidding, those are bulletproof vests for rednecks...
October 27, 200717 yr Because it doesn't perform as well as what we give them. It's been proven time and time again. Dragon Skin is subpar. did you see the futureweapons episode where it took a nade, put the dragon skin armor *right* on top of it and it withstood the blast?
October 27, 200717 yr Found this: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/newsroom/2007/NIJ07057.htm DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE ANNOUNCES FINDINGS ON DRAGON SKIN BODY ARMOR WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Department of Justice (DOJ), Office of Justice Programs (OJP) announced today that it has determined that the Pinnacle Armor, Inc. bulletproof vest model SOV 2000.1/MIL3AF01, is not in compliance with the requirements of OJP's National Institute of Justice (NIJ) voluntary compliance testing program for bullet-resistant body armor. Effective immediately, this body armor model will be removed from the NIJ list of bullet-resistant body armor models that satisfy its requirements. Pinnacle Armor, Inc. is the maker of "dragon skin" body armor. NIJ, OJP's research, development, and evaluation component, has reviewed evidence provided by the body armor manufacturer and has determined that the evidence is insufficient to demonstrate that the body armor model will maintain its ballistic performance over its six-year declared warranty period. Notwithstanding NIJ's determination, DOJ encourages public safety officers to wear their Pinnacle Body Armor, Inc. body armor, model SOV 2000.1/MIL3AF01 until replacement because research has shown that officers are more likely to suffer a fatal injury when not wearing body armor. In addition, DOJ strongly recommends that public safety agencies and officers who purchase new bullet-resistant body armor verify, prior to purchase, that the body armor model appears on NIJ's list of models that comply with its most current requirements, the 2005 Interim Requirements for Bullet-Resistant Body Armor. A list of these models is available at www.justnet.org. DOJ also encourages public safety officers to follow body armor manufacturer "wear and care" instructions, and not to store armor in the trunk of their vehicle or other environments in which armor might be exposed to extreme heat or cold. Information about the DOJ Body Armor Safety Initiative can be found at http://vests.ojp.gov. The Office of Justice Programs (OJP), headed by Assistant Attorney General Regina B. Schofield, provides federal leadership in developing the nation's capacity to prevent and control crime, administer justice and assist victims. OJP has five component bureaus: the Bureau of Justice Assistance; the Bureau of Justice Statistics; the National Institute of Justice; the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention; and the Office for Victims of Crime. Additionally, OJP has two program offices: the Community Capacity Development Office, which incorporates the Weed and Seed strategy, and the Sex Offender Sentencing, Monitoring, Apprehending, Registering and Tracking (SMART) Office. More information can be found at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov.
October 27, 200717 yr That body armor would be worth more than the soldiers life. Didn't know their was a price value on a humans life.
October 27, 200717 yr well it seems that its gonna be alot lighter and the iba we have now is way to heavy and its proven to cause back problems over prolonged period of time. I hate wearing mine cause it screws up my back really bad. I really wish the army would except the dragon skin that would help out alot:D
October 27, 200717 yr Didn't know their was a price value on a humans life. Well, in a perfect world there isn't but budgets place a very real value on a soldier's life. It's the same reason that leaves a Humvee burning along side the road instead of an APC driving away.
October 27, 200717 yr Dragon skin actaully was proven subpar in tests. It failed at a higher percentage than the IBA that is issued now. This new armor sounds great but until there can be some tests done and the SF guys give it a try we wont know for sure how ggod it is. As for the armor not being worth a soldiers life????? It costs several hundred thousands of dollars to train a special forces solder and over a hundred thousand so far for all the training I have recieved.... Not to mention 7 years of experience in my job field so yeah the vest is definately not worth more than a soldiers life....well not to me maybe to some generals somewhere. This is also the reason i dont understand why the military doesnt pay more for re enlistments. I mean if you had to start off new and train someone 80 grand wouldnt it make more sense to pay the already trained guy with experience 50 grand and call it good.
October 27, 200717 yr Dragon skin actaully was proven subpar in tests. It failed at a higher percentage than the IBA that is issued now. This new armor sounds great but until there can be some tests done and the SF guys give it a try we wont know for sure how ggod it is. This. Futureweapons does not speak for military testing. Yes, Dragon Skin is nice in its own conditions, but out in Iraq and Afghanistan (ie., military conditions), the glue that held the pieces together melted. It failed -- miserably, I'll have you know -- time and time again. I won't even address the fact that after some tests, the very first shot went through COMPLETELY with a 7.62 round. That's a pretty large problem. http://www.militarytimes.com/static/projects/pages/dragon_skin_release_000121may07.pdf Take a look at that. I think that settles the debate. If you still need more, this pretty much clears up everything you could possibly care to know... http://www.professionalsoldiers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14523 Let me stress: Dragon Skin's problem isn't stopping rounds. It's great at that, in SOME CONDITIONS. Its problem lies in standing up to the extreme conditions of today's combat, and environmental conditions. It isn't some conspiracy to give our soldiers armour that won't save them, by the way. We're giving them the best that they can get right now.
October 30, 200717 yr what ever happened to suiting up in a white wife beater t-shirt Don't forget the stains. That is where the power is derived from, the stains.
October 30, 200717 yr Don't forget the stains. That is where the power is derived from, the stains. lol- of course,your right
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