New Technique Turns T-Shirts into Body Armor

[richc]

http://www.livescience.com/technology/bullet-proof-t-shirt-100412.html

Those bulky, bulletproof vests could become a thing of the past. Their replacement: Your T-shirt, but with a special coating. Bulletproofing can be done in one of two ways. The first, old-school approach relies on hard plates of metal or ceramic, which deflect oncoming bullets. A more elegant way, perhaps, is the use of a network of fibers – the approach taken by Kevlar – to “catch” the bullet, much like a hockey goalie catches a flying puck.

Kevlar has made its mark in body armor, as the technology is used in vests, helmets, and other gear for law enforcement, corrections officers and the military. However, it’s expensive, which limits its use to those who can drop hundreds of dollars for protection.

The new technology, which also relies on the catching method, addresses these issues by using an inexpensive material and a simple process – a feat that could bring body armor to the masses, according to Xiaodong Li of the University of South Carolina and study researcher.

Here’s how it works: By dipping pieces of cotton from a T-shirt into a solution of boron powder, the researchers created a network of nanowires made out of boron carbide – the third hardest material known to man at room temperature.

The new T-shirt body armor probably won’t compete with the Kevlar-type technologies, but it could be useful for situations in which less protection is sufficient.

"We should be able to fabricate much tougher body armors using this new technique," Li said. "It could even be used to produce lightweight, fuel-efficient cars and aircrafts."

Li and his team detailed their findings in the April 6 issue of the journal Advanced Materials.

 

[MassBites]

So would it work any better if one wore two or more t-shirts?

I'm just say'n.

 

[Kenny474]

Sounds pretty innovative. Though with something as thin as a T-shirt, a bullet would probably still do some serious internal damage, though still better than having a hole in your chest in most cases. Though giving this to soldiers to wear under their flak jackets would increase their safety by a bit, and that alone makes it worthwhile in my eyes. Anything to save the lives of our soldiers and make them safer is worth any amount of money and research.

I think the vehicle armor is where this will end up excelling. Lighter faster and more agile armored vehicles should be possible, and they would probably be very beneficial in the military.

 

[Bob P]

Does shrink wrapping affect it?

 

[Keystone]

I don't think this would prevent any injury from any gun, and even if it stops a rifle round you'll still be down for the count...but at least you won't be leaking the red stuff. Could be interesting as a backup or lightweight, covert stuff for CCWers etc. Could be nice as an undershirt.

 

[KBCraig]

I don't think this would prevent any injury from any gun, and even if it stops a rifle round you'll still be down for the count...but at least you won't be leaking the red stuff.

Not leaking externally, at least. Internally is a different matter. All that energy has to be absorbed somewhere.

 

[Keystone]

Not leaking externally, at least. Internally is a different matter. All that energy has to be absorbed somewhere.

Yeah, and internal bleeding, from what I've read/heard, is worse. Harder to spot and all that.

 

[Blitz1]

Meh, I had these shirts for about 2 years now.

That's a joke folks.

I Hear they work though.

 

[AntiHippie]

Does that mean they can make (actually wearable) chicken plates for vests bigger than an index card now?

 

[Blitz1]

Does that mean they can make (actually wearable) chicken plates for vests bigger than an index card now?

.

 

[pbearperry]

Unless trauma can be defeated also,these T-shirts are a waste of money.My remody is not to go to after hour homey parties and the threat level is greatly reduced.

 

[ShadeWPI]

I don't think this would prevent any injury from any gun, and even if it stops a rifle round you'll still be down for the count...but at least you won't be leaking the red stuff. Could be interesting as a backup or lightweight, covert stuff for CCWers etc. Could be nice as an undershirt.

Actually, you'd need it as an over-shirt to that there's energy dispursion (spreading) material under it. As an under material all it's going to to is make a penetrating object easier to remove.

The Samuri used to wear layers of silk under their main armor. The goal of the silk underlayer was to catch the head if an arrow that penetrated the armor and wrap the head in the silk cloth. This reduces the wound damage but presenting blunted edges that push tissue out of the way rather than cutting through it, while protecting the body from the barbs that cause additional damage when the arrow is removed. As an underlayer, that's about the only value a teeshirt is going to serve.

However, as a cover-layer over a padded underlayer, if the cloth is strong enough to prevent penetration and blunt the impact, a back-up layer of energy dissipating material (padding) could prove very useful. If the treated cotton material also proves to be slash or stab resistant, it could be a very effective addition to existing ballistic clothes as a carrier, shell or outer material. If the material is half as effective as kevlar by thickness, but a quarter the weight and cost, it could bring moderate (II-A or II) threat level body armor into the mainstream market. a 1/2" thick padded vest that only weights 2 lbs and can retail for $100 while offering NIJ II-A ballistic protection would be a wonderful addition to the market.