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2005-12-18 Science & Technology

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Posted by lotp 2005-12-18 10:20|| || Front Page|| [11124 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Bucky Balls of Fire!

Posted by bigjim-ky 2005-12-18 10:46|| 2005-12-18 10:46|| Front Page Top

#2 Hard being a palestinian.

Posted by gromgoru 2005-12-18 11:33|| 2005-12-18 11:33|| Front Page Top

#3 Almost all materials have the potential of being formed into nanostructures like 'buckyballs' and nanotubes. The article is interesting, but I think it is mainly an 'ad' for funding. It is unlikely in the extreme that they are producing kilograms per day, unless they are calling 0.1 kg 'kg/day'. Look at the equipment. It is also extremely unlikely that their material will be lower in cost than carbon nanotubes. Look at the cost per gram of the base materials (carbon vs. anything else for one) and then factor in the fact that most nanostructures are made in CVD furnaces. The cost of the energy to produce the products usually swamps out the cost of the base material when dealing with carbon. It will be worse for less common base materials. The other way is to use supercritical fluids rather than CVD, but the energy cost is equivalent and cost of production hardware is higher. Yes, US firms are doing similar things. Different, but similar. Like growing very long carbon nanotubes 10-20mm long or more and weaving them together into a thread-like fiber that can then be utilized in conventional fabrication techniques. A material like the one highlighted in the article will transfer all of the projectile's momentum to whatever is on the other side (like your chest). Nice step in the right direction through. Hope they get their funding.

Posted by Whiskey Mike 2005-12-18 13:10|| 2005-12-18 13:10|| Front Page Top

#4 You gotta admit that it looks incredibly cool.

Oddly Romanesque.

Posted by Anonymoose 2005-12-18 13:26|| 2005-12-18 13:26|| Front Page Top

#5 "Batman Begins"

Posted by Frank G">Frank G 2005-12-18 13:28|| 2005-12-18 13:28|| Front Page Top

#6 The picture is of medieval armor, as the caption notes. It would likely represent a year's worth of production at their probable production rates. Expect the real armor to be segmented with replacable segments, forward-biased, covering the neck with spall shields, covering the exposed armpits of someone aiming a rifle, and having an 'assault plate' on the off-side arm of the shooter. If I can get some pics out, I will.

Posted by Whiskey Mike 2005-12-18 13:32|| 2005-12-18 13:32|| Front Page Top

#7 There's a company in California that's making what's essentially scale armor out of ceramics. They say it's worked as well.

I also have some ideas I'd like to try out but I keep not having time to do anything with them.

Posted by Phil 2005-12-18 15:29|| 2005-12-18 15:29|| Front Page Top

#8 I still wonder why they haven't fielded a transparent "rifle shield". It's a bullet and frag deflecting, lightweight fan that clamps onto the upper receiver, then 'fans' either 180 degrees over the top of the rifle, or 360 degrees around the rifle. It would be great face and neck protection in urban combat situations.

Posted by Anonymoose 2005-12-18 15:49|| 2005-12-18 15:49|| Front Page Top

#9 I still wonder why they haven't fielded a transparent "rifle shield"

Cause the increase in protection/decrease in casualties is not enough to justify the expense/time. The shield is going to be heavy/awkward, with limited utility outside of an assult. IIRC, this concept has been tried repeatedly since at least the 1960's

BTW-- while I'm all for enhanced personal armor, I've noticed that the stuff is *heavy*. The full body suit a-la "starwars stormtrooper" looks to be rather unpleasant to waddle about in. Especialy in 130-deg. weather. Still, I hope the whole kit wont wind up weighing more than the current IBA I just spent a year in.

Posted by N Guard 2005-12-18 17:17|| 2005-12-18 17:17|| Front Page Top

#10 Hi Phil, got a name on that CA company? Ceramic scales work fine, but are usually heavy. Nano over ceramic over titanium is light.

Posted by Whiskey Mike 2005-12-18 18:39|| 2005-12-18 18:39|| Front Page Top

#11 N Guard: Ah, but the game has changed as far as materials go. The problem was caused by insisting that the materials had to be "bullet-proof", like bulletproof glass. But that is not what you need for a rifle shield. You just need to deflect the bullet or frag outward by from between 10 and 15 degrees.

Optimally, it is extended eye, face, and neck protection. Any protection beyond that is just a bonus.

Weight could be under 2 oz.

It does not have to be indestructible, either. Even if it was trashed with a single "hit", it would have saved a possible serious injury.

In the 180-degree mode it would be great to peek around corners and over ledges. 360-degree for active patrol.

Posted by Anonymoose 2005-12-18 20:54|| 2005-12-18 20:54|| Front Page Top

23:47 3dc
23:43 3dc
23:33 Alaska Paul
23:28 Alaska Paul
23:22 yeah man
23:22 Alaska Paul
23:18 yeah whatever
23:15 Besoeker
23:08 Besoeker
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23:00 Besoeker
22:56 2b
22:41 Frank G
22:36 2b
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22:06 Fred
21:55 Phil
21:53 trailing wife
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21:46 phil_b
21:31 Anonymoose
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21:07 mhw