Researchers from the General Albacete Fuster School of the Marine Corps, together with scientists from the Polytechnic University of Cartagena, have begun testing a new body armor, the protective elements of which are made on the basis of graphene. According to a report published on the website of the Spanish Armed Forces, firing tests of body armor took place at the end of September 2018. Scientists are currently analyzing the results.
Modern bulletproof vests are produced in various classes designed to protect against different types of bullets. Bulletproof vests designed to protect against pistol bullets, as a rule, are light and comfortable, but cannot stop rifle bullets. There are extremely heavy body armor, for example, assault, which provide protection against bullets of different calibers: from pistol to rifle. Modern research in the field of personal protection in general is aimed at reducing the mass of body armor and increasing their penetration resistance.
Modern army body armor is made of aramid-based fabric with a soft inner backing to absorb shock. Such vests, as a rule, have special pockets, into which, if necessary, you can insert metal or ceramic plates. This is done to increase the degree of protection. The addition of such plates significantly increases the weight of personal protection. The configuration of the body armor is chosen by the military, depending on the type of combat mission to be performed.
Research on graphene-based materials has been carried out by the Polytechnic University of Cartagena over the past four years. Scientists managed to make several plates for body armor from a new material, which are being tested. Details about the arrangement of the plates are classified. During the tests, the body armor was tested by firing various types of cartridges from pistols, sniper rifles and automatic weapons. The test results were found to be satisfactory.
Graphene, among other things, is a material with a high mechanical rigidity, up to one terapascal, and a relatively low mass of only 0.77 grams per square meter. Today, companies in several countries around the world are developing personal protective equipment with graphene-based elements. For example, Imperial College London is studying the protective properties of a composite material based on silkworm silk with the addition of graphene.
In mid-October 2018, it became known that Chinese developers had created an upgraded version of the Z-10 attack helicopter, equipped with additional graphene-based armor. On the helicopter, the new armor is used in the cockpit and fuel tank area, providing additional ballistic protection. Details about the design of the new armor were not disclosed. The development of the new armor was carried out by the Beijing Institute of Aviation Materials.
In December last year, researchers from the City University of New York experimentally showed that two-layer graphene under strong compression reversibly forms a film with a transverse rigidity comparable to diamond, as well as resistant to diamond puncture. In this case, an increase in the number of graphene layers does not lead to such an effect.
Site Title 