Wearable Technology Scientists Discover How to Turn Ordinary T-Shirts Into Body Armor

[Bob Hubbard]

http://www.ecouterre.com/15824/scientists-discover-how-to-turn-ordinary-t-shirts-into-body-armor/

A Hanes Beefy that can deflect bullets may sound like the stuff of comic books, but scientists have developed a way of bulking up an ordinary T-shirt to create wearable armor. By splicing the carbon in the cotton with boron, the third hardest material on the planet, researchers at the University of South Carolina markedly increased the fabric’s toughness. The result is a lightweight shirt reinforced with boron carbide—the same material used to shield military tanks.

I want a Super Suit.

 

[CanuckMA]

With no padding, the bullet may not make it through, but I bet it stings a bit. :ultracool

 

[Bob Hubbard]

I bet it knocks you on your ***, but that's preferable I think to having a big hole punched in you.

 

[Dirty Dog]

I bet it knocks you on your ***, but that's preferable I think to having a big hole punched in you.

Not really. The laws of physics make it mandatory that impact down range is less than recoil.

I once met a man who sold "Second Chance" vests. Part of his demo was to shoot himself in the chest with a 44 mag. He got bruises, but nothing worse.

 

[Bruno@MT]

Not really. The laws of physics make it mandatory that impact down range is less than recoil.

I once met a man who sold "Second Chance" vests. Part of his demo was to shoot himself in the chest with a 44 mag. He got bruises, but nothing worse.

While that could be true for a vest that spreads the impact, if the t-shirt has enough give, the bullet will still do enough damage to matter.

To illustrate what I mean, put your thumb on your t-shirt, between 2 lower ribs. Start pushing. This will be uncomfortable but keep an eye on your t-shirt. It is not penetrated, but your thumb is going to be deep between your ribs before it starts exerting force to push back your thumb.

Replace your thumb with a 44 mag bullet and replace your t-shirt with a bullet proof one. The same principle applies. The bullet will not penetrate the shirt, but it will hit you hard and deep, and break some stuff before being stopped.

 

[jks9199]

OK, folks, it's clear that even if the fabric is truly bulletproof, you still don't want to get shot. It's like getting punched -- at several hundred (or close to 2000!) fps. It'll leave a mark, even if it doesn't make a hole.`

It's still an interesting development. Among other things, it might produce much more comfortable, much more concealable body armor. But I'm still curious about how flexible it really is...

 

[Bill Mattocks]

My T-Shirts are all bulletproof. I don't wash 'em.

 

[jks9199]

My T-Shirts are all bulletproof. I don't wash 'em.

That's not bulletproofing... That just means that they're so dirty & gross that not even the bullet wants to get close!

 

[Bill Mattocks]

That's not bulletproofing... That just means that they're so dirty & gross that not even the bullet wants to get close!

A perfect example of a distinction without a difference. End result, nothing comes near me. Self-defense achieved. Pre-emptive, passive, and free. No training required.

 

[jks9199]

A perfect example of a distinction without a difference. End result, nothing comes near me. Self-defense achieved. Pre-emptive, passive, and free. No training required.

Sure, no training required. Just a very strong stomach... and extreme disinterest in human company!

 

[Bill Mattocks]

Sure, no training required. Just a very strong stomach... and extreme disinterest in human company!

Not seeing any downside here!

 

[CoryKS]

But is it shark-proof?

 

[CanuckMA]

Chuck Norris once spit on my shirt. Hurt like a SOB, but I can now withstand anything up to a small tactical nuke.

 

[Omar B]

A perfect example of a distinction without a difference. End result, nothing comes near me. Self-defense achieved. Pre-emptive, passive, and free. No training required.

I also have a tiger replant key chain, have not had a tiger incident yet.

 

[kaizasosei]

Very cool. I just had to share this with my friends from the design field. Maybe they have already heard of it as those designers know about most 'stuff'.

j

 

[Cryozombie]

I also have a tiger replant key chain, have not had a tiger incident yet.

If no tigers have come near you, how do you know your key chain can replant them? And why would you dig them up in the first place?

 

[CoryKS]

If no tigers have come near you, how do you know your key chain can replant them? And why would you dig them up in the first place?

 

[jks9199]

I do believe the word being sought is "repellent" not "replant"...

 

[Cryozombie]

I do believe the word being sought is "repellent" not "replant"...

I got that. I was making a joke on his misspelling of the word to Replant.

 

[Archangel M]

Blunt force trauma and internal injuries can kill you just as dead.