Stronger than steel? New material made of metal

In the world of the movie, something like an armored car that does not budge even when attacked by an enemy appears. Can we actually make a complete bulletproof vehicle? It could be made, but the problem is heavy and there can be other problems that make it difficult to move.

Among these, the newly developed material by the North Carolina State University research team is composite metal foam (CMF). It can be said to be a group of metal balls like small table tennis balls surrounded by titanium and alloys.

It is said that the composite panel with CMF material sandwiched between ceramic and thin aluminum plate can expect bulletproof properties like heavy steel armor. Even in tests using powerful armor-piercing shells, such as those fired by a pistol, if the bullet speed is about 514m/sec, the rear plate is almost unchanged. It doesn’t penetrate even at 801m/sec.

0.50 caliber bullets and 0.50 caliber AP shells flying at a speed of 500 to 885 m per second. As a result, it is said that the composite panel made of CMF was able to destroy its shape when hit by a bullet, absorbing up to 75% of the bullet energy, and 78% if it was an armored shell. Steel panels, which can expect the same bulletproof capability, are at least twice as heavy.

This new CMF material can be expected to benefit from improved armored vehicle safety and maneuverability, improved fuel economy, significantly reduced weight, and much less material required than steel. The research team believes that the thickness of ceramic and aluminum can be optimized by applying various layers to the panel and improving the adhesive to make it lighter. In addition, it was found that CMF material is effective in blocking X-rays, gamma rays, and neutron rays, and it is said that it can withstand fire or heat up to twice the temperature of a steel plate.

CMF materials can be expected not only in the military field in the future, but also to protect spacecraft from space waste and radiation. You can even think of a variety of uses, such as making your car safer. If it is used as a material for smartphones, it may not be necessary to protect the terminal any more in a physical sense. Related information can be found here .