Nanotubes May Make Best Bulletproof Vest
A thin vest of tiny carbon nanotubes may have the potential to stop bullets without even the bruising left by today's vest technology. Cynthia Graber reports.
SUBSCRIBE TO Science Quickly
On supporting science journalism
If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.
Most bullet-proof materials that cops wear today work by spreading out the force of a bullet’s impact. But that can still cause bruises or even severe damage to internal organs. Now researchers at the University of Sydney are using nanotechnology to develop a vest that conjures up images of Superman—the bullets bounce away harmlessly. The researchers worked on the nanometer scale—one billionth of a meter—with carbon nanotubes. A carbon nanotube is an atom thick-cylinder of graphite, like in pencil lead. They’re lightweight, extremely strong, and can absorb a great deal of energy. But how do you optimize these properties to make a bulletproof vest?
Researchers tested how nanotubes of different sizes responded to impacts. In place of bullets, they used tiny, super-hard diamonds. Ironically, diamonds are just another arrangement of carbon atoms. Larger nanotubes worked best at deflecting the diamond projectiles. The nanotubes also quickly snapped back into position to deflect a second bullet that might hit the same spot. The study, published in the journal Nanotechnology, paves the way for a super-thin bulletproof vest of the future
It’s Time to Stand Up for Science
If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.
I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.
If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.
In return, you get essential news, captivating podcasts, brilliant infographics, can't-miss newsletters, must-watch videos, challenging games, and the science world's best writing and reporting. You can even gift someone a subscription.
There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you’ll support us in that mission.
