Nanotech Armor

A new nano-architected carbon material has been developed that is more effective at stopping projectiles than an equal mass of steel or Kevlar™. The breakthrough could lead to lighter and stronger personal armor, protective coatings, and blast shields.

The material consists of tiny carbon struts (thinner than a human hair) that are interconnected to form tetrakaidecahedrons. These 14-faced structures (also known as Kelvin cells) have been used in shock-mitigating foams to absorb kinetic energy. But when made from carbon, the three-dimensional shape can transform a normally stiff and brittle substance into a bendable, flexible material.

It was tested by bombarding it with 14-micron silicone oxide particles traveling at supersonic speeds of up to 1,100 meters per second (2,461 miles per hour). As a point of comparison, the speed of sound is 340 meters per second or 761 miles per hour. Pound for pound, the new material performed 100% better than steel and 70% better than Kevlar.

Next, the researchers will be looking at ways to scale up production as well as assess the performance of other substances besides carbon for impact-resistant properties.

For information: Julia Greer, Caltech, Division of Engineering and Applied Science, 1200 E. California Blvd., Pasadena, CA 91125; phone: 626-395-4127; email: jrgreer@caltech.edu; website: https://www.caltech.edu/ or https://jrgreer.caltech.edu/