The uses and impact of dilatant fluids
Military application
The primary use of the dilatant fluid impregnated Kevlar is, of course, the military. As it is just as flexible as Kevlar, yet has a much higher strength, it can vastly improve body armour for the armed services. Impregnating Kevlar with dilatant fluids strengthens the kevlar to such an extent that many fewer layers can be used to give the same or greater protection. This means that the body armour can be lighter, more flexible and yet offer greater protection from projectiles, shrapnel and explosive devices - the major causes of injury and death in modern conflicts.
Because fewer layers can be used, armour for bodily extremities can be made, and considering that ~70% of all non-fatal injuries are to extremities and ~16% of deaths on the battlefield are due to 'trauma to extremities'[10] this is of great importance. Extremity armour using dilatant fluid impregnated Kevlar could not only significantly reduce the number of injuries in battle, but it could also save many lives.
Non-military applications
Dilatant fluid impregnated Kevlar also has applications outside of the military. For example, in sportsclothing such as ski-gear it could be used to protect the wearer when they fall or hit something. It could offer significant protection upon impact yet be flexible while in normal use. It could also be used by the police to protect from gunshot and knife wounds and by firefighters to mitigate damage done by explosions and falling objects. Both of these applications could save many lives each year.
Dilatant fluids alone
I believe that dilatant fluids could also have applications without first being impregnated into Kevlar. For instances where the force applied is not as great as that of a bullet, the dilatant fluid alone could provide enough hardening to protect the body. Clothing with pads containing dilatant fluid for use in sports, such as shoulderpads for rugby or American Football, and for protective gear for industrial work, such as in gloves to protect hands from being crushed by heavy objects.
These all go to show that dilatant fluids can be applied in many and varied areas and that their impact could be very large. They could save the lives of many soldiers, policemen, firefighters and private individuals each year. They could dramatically decrease the number of (potentially fatal) wounds received from gunshots, shrapnel, explosions as well as those from industrial and sporting accidents.
The primary use of the dilatant fluid impregnated Kevlar is, of course, the military. As it is just as flexible as Kevlar, yet has a much higher strength, it can vastly improve body armour for the armed services. Impregnating Kevlar with dilatant fluids strengthens the kevlar to such an extent that many fewer layers can be used to give the same or greater protection. This means that the body armour can be lighter, more flexible and yet offer greater protection from projectiles, shrapnel and explosive devices - the major causes of injury and death in modern conflicts.
Because fewer layers can be used, armour for bodily extremities can be made, and considering that ~70% of all non-fatal injuries are to extremities and ~16% of deaths on the battlefield are due to 'trauma to extremities'[10] this is of great importance. Extremity armour using dilatant fluid impregnated Kevlar could not only significantly reduce the number of injuries in battle, but it could also save many lives.
Non-military applications
Dilatant fluid impregnated Kevlar also has applications outside of the military. For example, in sportsclothing such as ski-gear it could be used to protect the wearer when they fall or hit something. It could offer significant protection upon impact yet be flexible while in normal use. It could also be used by the police to protect from gunshot and knife wounds and by firefighters to mitigate damage done by explosions and falling objects. Both of these applications could save many lives each year.
Dilatant fluids alone
I believe that dilatant fluids could also have applications without first being impregnated into Kevlar. For instances where the force applied is not as great as that of a bullet, the dilatant fluid alone could provide enough hardening to protect the body. Clothing with pads containing dilatant fluid for use in sports, such as shoulderpads for rugby or American Football, and for protective gear for industrial work, such as in gloves to protect hands from being crushed by heavy objects.
These all go to show that dilatant fluids can be applied in many and varied areas and that their impact could be very large. They could save the lives of many soldiers, policemen, firefighters and private individuals each year. They could dramatically decrease the number of (potentially fatal) wounds received from gunshots, shrapnel, explosions as well as those from industrial and sporting accidents.