Researchers from John Hopkins University have developed a new shock-absorbing material that is as strong as steel but as light as foam. The material offers more protection from a wide range of impacts, but being lighter could reduce fuel consumption and the environmental impact of vehicles. If applied en masse, this could be a game changer for helmets, body armor, and automobile and aerospace parts.
The research team, headed by Sung Hoon Kang, increased the material's ability to withstand impact by using high energy-absorbing liquid crystal elastomers (LCEs), which have been used mainly in actuators and robotics.
In their durability tests, it held up against strikes from objects weighing about four to 15 pounds, coming at speeds of up to about 22 miles per hour. The tests were limited to 22 miles per hour due to limits of the testing machines, but the team is confident the padding could safely absorb even greater impacts.
They are currently exploring a collaboration with a helmet company to design, fabricate, and test next-generation helmets for athletes and the military.
Image: Will Kirk/Johns Hopkins University