New Shock-Absorbing Gel Could Improve Even Bullet-Proof Clothing

Scientists at the University of Kent in the UK have developed a shock-absorbing gel which, unlike current iterations of bullet-proof material, can dull a projectile’s kinetic energy rather than just merely stopping it from piercing through. 

As the Smithsonian Magazine notes, most body armor, which comprises bulky layers of ceramic and fibers compacted together, can only withstand a single shot. The new solution, on the other hand, could allow for equipment to be reused. 

Interestingly, the entire project focused on a natural shock absorber found in human cells, otherwise known as the protein talin. Molecules of the substance unfold and stretch out under tension, before folding back up again, infinitely.

As such, by combining large numbers of the talin molecule together, researchers were able to create a gel-like material, known as Talin Shock Absorbing Material (TSAM), that retained the protein’s incredible, all-nature shock-absorbing properties. 

Just how strong is this gel, exactly? Well, as per Gizmodo, the team fired basalt particles and aluminum pieces at the gel, traveling at speeds of over 3,500 miles per hour, or three times faster than a bullet from a handgun. 

The hydrogel was able to absorb the shock of all the projectiles, capturing the shots and protecting the aluminum plate it was placed atop from any harm. On the other hand, the control substance saw both the plate and projectile destroyed. 

Apart from being incorporated into bulletproof clothing and armor, the researchers posit the material can be used in the aerospace sector, in terms of collecting space debris for further study or improving the safety of astronauts’ space suits. 

Professor Jen Hiscock explains that the is was the brainchild of an interdisciplinary collaboration between fundamental biology, chemistry, and materials science that saw the birth of an “amazing new class of materials.” 

“This is something that we are actively undertaking research into with the support of new collaborators within the defense and aerospace sectors,” she adds. 

[via Smithsonian Magazine and Gizmodo, cover image via Duzhnikova | Dreamstime.com]