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Introducing The Gel-Filled Army Helmet That Will Crush Bullets As They Penetrate It
Daily Mail Online ^ | February 27, 2009 | Matthew Hickley

Posted on 03/02/2009 8:43:55 PM PST by an amused spectator

On the face of it a layer of orange jelly may not sound the best way to protect a soldier's head from high velocity bullets and shrapnel.

But the British Army's standard-issue combat helmet is set to be upgraded with a liner made from gooey miracle gel, which responds to a sudden impact by locking instantly into a solid form - absorbing huge amounts of energy harmlessly.

A UK-based technology company was today celebrating a £100,000 contract from the Ministry of Defence to develop its D3O shock-absorbing gel to help save the lives of British troops fighting on the frontline in Afghanistan.

(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: d3o; equipment; helmets; kevlar; miltech
D3O on Wiki

They've got their own website:

Official webpage

1 posted on 03/02/2009 8:43:55 PM PST by an amused spectator
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To: an amused spectator

They better make sure it’s not just cornstarch and water.


2 posted on 03/02/2009 8:45:26 PM PST by jiggyboy (Ten per cent of poll respondents are either lying or insane)
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To: an amused spectator

If that works, that’s wonderful. I love technology.

Can they do flak jackets or bulletproof vests made out of this? That is, would they be better/lighter than Kevlar?


3 posted on 03/02/2009 8:52:23 PM PST by Choose Ye This Day (Tu ne cede malis.)
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To: jiggyboy

Beat me to it! “Thixotropic” - great stuff.


4 posted on 03/02/2009 8:52:35 PM PST by ProtectOurFreedom
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To: an amused spectator

Great, but you still have to do something with the energy (mv^2)/2 of that projectile. This may stop it, but the guy with the helmet still feels plenty of shock. The good news is he feels it (meaning he’s alive)...


5 posted on 03/02/2009 8:57:48 PM PST by dayglored (Listen, strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government!)
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To: an amused spectator
Sounds like an idea for a new line of prophylactics.
6 posted on 03/02/2009 8:59:02 PM PST by fish hawk (Atheism is a non-prophet organization)
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To: an amused spectator

Uh oh! They make an iPhone protector, too.

http://www.d3o.com/products.php?section=4 scroll down a bit.


7 posted on 03/02/2009 9:03:59 PM PST by papasmurf (Impeach the illegal bastard!)
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To: an amused spectator

8 posted on 03/02/2009 9:15:29 PM PST by Bobalu (McCain has been proven to be the rino flop I always thought he was.)
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To: an amused spectator

9 posted on 03/02/2009 9:31:38 PM PST by Antonello (Oh my God, don't shoot the banana!)
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To: an amused spectator

IIRC this super gel was featured on ‘Future Weapons’ a year or two ago.

It’s also stab proof, and Mack bent the tip of an ice pick trying to penetrate the stuff.


10 posted on 03/02/2009 11:11:56 PM PST by 2CAVTrooper (Today we've discovered a force more powerful than luck or genius----stupidity.)
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To: an amused spectator

This seems rather of use where flexibility is required, like in body armor. For helmets there are probably materials which offer higher protection at the same weight.


11 posted on 03/03/2009 8:31:22 AM PST by avid ("DU DUMME SAU!" - Klaus Kinski)
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To: fish hawk

Crushes what penetrates it? No thanks. Been there done that.


12 posted on 03/03/2009 8:34:02 AM PST by allmendream ("Wealth is EARNED not distributed, so how could it be redistributed?")
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