Metal foam shatters ammor piercing bullet into dust.

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danez71

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Pretty cool developments in the Composite Metal Foam world.

Video link in 2nd link below.



http://www.techtimes.com/articles/1...romise-of-new-technologies-and-protection.htm
Researchers tested the latest using 7.62 x 63 millimeter M2 armor piercing projectiles, fired in accordance with standards [snip].

"We could stop the bullet at a total thickness of less than an inch, while the indentation on the back was less than 8 millimeters. To put that in context, the NIJ standard allows up to 44 millimeters indentation in the back of an armor," says Afsaneh Rabiei of North Carolina State University.



http://news.discovery.com/tech/gear-and-gadgets/metal-foam-armor-disintegrates-bullets-160408.htm
Bad news for bullets this week: Researchers at North Carolina State University have developed a super strong armor material that literally turns bullets to dust upon impact.
In a rather dramatic video recently posted online, an armor-piercing bullet is shown essentially disintegrating as it impacts the armor. Check it out:

Emphasis added by me.
 
I always knew my high porosity welds were good for something :D
 
While the projectile disintegrates the impact energy is still there and has to be transmitted to the person. It makes me think of the S&W .460 mag that can have 2000 foot pounds of energy. That has to go somewhere.
 
It makes me think of the S&W .460 mag that can have 2000 foot pounds of energy. That has to go somewhere
Well yeah, no tech can block the bulk inertia bludgeoning you at the impact site, but by the same token it also affects the shooter to a crippling level --at least enough to make that 460 a fairly impractical firearm for anything but the one job of breaking a short rib on a guy wearing high-end body armor.

'Course none of this is needed for head shots, which are always perfect :D

It'd be really cool if this composite/ceramic/foam stuff ends up light enough to put on a vehicle/etc without being a ridiculous burden like plates are currently.

TCB
 
The ceramic face and Kevlar laminate are the real issue with weight. The bullet doesn't strike the foam directly.
 
Less than an inch. That's still a lot thicker than your average plate, though, isn't it? At that point, the problem becomes bulk, not weight.
Eh....not really.......especially if you conpair it to a lvl4 plate....it's not uncommon to see those over 1" thick.....

Usually so long as the thickness is reasonable....weight is the biggest limiting factor.....

And seeing as metal foam had a significant portion of its volume ad air.....it tends to have a significant weight savings
 
If this material works as stated who cares about muzzle energy,a huge bruise or broken ribs,sternum etc beats dead any day of the week.
 
I figure it will be like the existing ceramic armor, one hit and it is pretty well used up. Don't get hit twice on the same plate or at least not in the same area.
 
While the projectile disintegrates the impact energy is still there and has to be transmitted to the person. It makes me think of the S&W .460 mag that can have 2000 foot pounds of energy. That has to go somewhere.

Nothing handheld is going to be able to impart significant enough momentum to knock the other guy down provided the armour is good enough in spreading the force around.

Sure, you could always have that custom made 2 bore rifle where the phrase "knockdown power" actually makes sense, but it'd be mighty impractical to lug around, much less shoot.
 
From the day the first castle was built... the race to find a better cannon was on! We'll always have that same relationship between projectiles and the armor needed to defeat them. I take this as a first step and expect that the struggle will continue over time. Any gain on one side or the other will be pretty much temporary until the next development. The practical side of this sort of stuff is still to be developed. As noted already weight and bulk will define any possible uses. Sure is interesting though....
 
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