Transparent armor developed by US scientists: light weight, strong defense

Scientists at the U.S Naval Research Laboratory have developed and patented a transparent armor, UPI reported recently They say the armor will reduce weight while maintaining strong defensive properties U.S special forces in Talos (Tactical light operator suit) use liquid materials to make bulletproof vests The armor is made of thermoplastic elastomer or rubber polymer When heated, the rubber can be processed like thermoplastic According to a study published in January 2015, the material can be melted, repeatedly deformed and recycled The polymer is formed by physical means, not chemical treatment This allows the armor to be easily and quickly repaired, the researchers said "Heating this material above a softening point of about 100 degrees Celsius melts small grains, bringing fracture surfaces together and reshaping by diffusion," senior investigator Mike Roland explained in a press release This can be done with a hot metal plate similar to iron This hot metal plate will shape the newly formed surface into a smooth sheet " Before testing the polymer for armor, researchers at the Naval Research Laboratory used the material as a coating on hard materials to enhance its impact resistance By adding thermoplastic elastomers, researchers can make the material transparent and lighter than conventional protective materials "Because of the dissipative nature of this elastomer, the damage caused by missile impact will be limited to the impact point," Roland said This means that the impact on visibility is almost negligible and multiple strike protection can be achieved "