Could pearls help save a soldier’s life?
Scientists are looking at pearls in an innovative U.S. Army research project to
bolster body armor.
Researchers at the University of Buffalo have simulated mother of pearl, or the
outer coating of pearls, to create a lightweight plastic described as 14 times
stronger and eight times lighter than steel. In a statement, the Army says that
the material is “ideal for absorbing the impact of bullets and other
projectiles.”
The research, which is funded by the Army Research Office (ARO), is published in the journal ACS Applied Polymer Materials.
“The material is stiff, strong and tough,” said Shenqiang Ren, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at Buffalo University and the paper’s lead author, in the statement. “It could be applicable to vests, helmets and other types of body armor, as well as protective armor for ships, helicopters and other vehicles.”
Read more about how the army is eyeing pearls in innovative project to bolster body armor on the Fox News website HERE
