Armadillo Inspired Flexible Armor

Mar-22-14 The flexible shell of the armadillo has inspired a new material, which could have applications in body armor as well as protective coatings and flexible electronics.

The armor of animals like armadillos and crocodiles is made up of an array of hard plates embedded in soft tissue. To create a similar sturdy yet flexible material, the team from McGill University scored a glass plate into horizontal segments. The segmented glass was then attached to a rubber substrate using silicon glue. When the team tested the armor by trying to puncture it with a sharp needle, they found that the segmented glass provided a puncture resistance of up to 70 percent more than that of the unsegmented glass.

Currently, the team is researching ways to use more effective materials, such as ceramics, to create the armor.

More Info about this Invention:

[DISCOVERY.COM]
[BIOMIMETIC MATERIALS LABORATORY]

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