A non-Newtonian liquid developed in part by scientists at Warsaw University of Technology heads towards commercialisation as body armour.
Three institutions working to create a new type of body armer are in the final stages of commercialising their Shear-Thickening Fluid.
Scientists from Warsaw University of Technology, along with Institute of Security Technologies Moratex and Military Institute of Armament Technology, have developed the non-Newtonian liquid that can provide protection from bullets.
Unlike normal liquids, non-Newtonian liquids change their viscosity when forces act upon them. In the case of the Shear-Thickening Fluid it hardens and spreads the force of the impact over a larger area.
Marcin Struszczyk, deputy director of science at the Moratex Institute, said: “We tried to achieve an effect of maximum energy absorption, so that the deformation of the cover could be reduced. In this way we managed to minimise the risk of damage to internal organs.”
The Shear-Thickening Fluid, when used as body armour, has a bullet deflection depth of just one centimetre. More traditional protective vests have a deflection depth of four centimetres which can still lead to injury and death in some cases.