The search for new materials for the personal protective equipment of future generations has constantly led scientists to the field of living nature, where mollusc shells, the body structure of sea sponges, etc. University of Kent researchers followed the same path and succeeded in creating a whole family of protein-based organic materials that can withstand the effects of objects reaching hypersonic speeds. In addition to the most obvious application in military affairs, the researchers believe these materials could also be used in space technology.

The new shock-absorbing material uses the natural shock-absorbing properties of a protein called Tallinn and a family of hydrogel materials called TSAM (Tallin Shock Absorbing Materials).

During tests, these materials demonstrated the ability to absorb impacts from objects reaching speeds of up to 1.5 kilometers per second. This is much faster than the velocity of projectiles and projectiles from firearms (0.4…1.0 km/sec) and faster than most micrometeorites that enter space at slightly more than 1 km/sec.

The damping properties of the new materials were tested using different types of projectiles, from tiny micrometer-sized basalt particles to large aluminum shrapnel balls. One of the positive features of the new material was that the bullets themselves, immersed in the TSAM hydrogel, mostly remained intact. This feature can be used, for example, to collect micrometeorite samples.

Test results have shown that TSAMs absorb the kinetic energy of bullets and debris better than existing ceramic or fiber-based materials such as Kevlar. The use of TSAM materials in body armor and other personal protection devices will reduce their weight, increase reliability and provide better protection against so-called armor injury. Source