Engineers To Develop Stronger & Lighter Armor For Soldiers

A team of materials engineers from four Universities #-Link-Snipped-#, Johns Hopkins, Rutgers University, and the University of Delaware will embark on a mission to protect the lives of soldiers by developing a better, stronger and lighter armor. US Army Research Labs has offered a $90 million grant to the consortium of these researchers who'll investigate what happens to the protecting materials during the high intensity impacts. The team's initial focus will be on magnesium alloys and boron carbide ceramics because of their known use in racing car wheels. The magnesium alloys are lightweight and are very strong and could just be an ideal material for developing better armors.


Image Credit: Caltech

Until now, scientists have not been able to figure out why adding materials like #-Link-Snipped-# & zinc in smaller quantities to magnesium alloy makes it stronger. The team will also focus on developing damage tolerant materials. Further details of this project can be obtained on #-Link-Snipped-#.