[King Prout]

they were playing with this idea a few years ago, for protective padding for people with frail hips - IIRC the suspension was water and corn starch.
no, I am not kidding - it is exactly that simple.
mix up some yourself and see
under a gentle touch, the mix is highly plastic
under a hammerblow, it becomes rigid and transfers impact forces laterally.

[Shaun_MD]

Leave it to me to spot a potential flaw.
It would seem that the more stress the soldier was under,
the harder and more rigid the armor would become.
If he were shot or took a serious blow, would he not
become immobilized? It would seem to restrict movement under excessive stress.

Don't laugh at me if I'm wrong - I failed physics. ;)

[Steve Van Doorn]

"water and corn starch"

It becomes like cement when mixed. but how do you keep the separated and when mixed how do you mix the right about in an instant like that?

[RinaseaofDs]

This new armor uses something almost equally as ordinary and inexpensive - antifreeze. Polyethelene Glycol.