New Camouflage Skin Paint Can Withstand Temperature As High As 600°C

If you are a fan of war movies, you might be aware of camouflage skin paint that solders put on their face along with the camouflage suit to sneak into enemy territory undetected. The traditional face paint contains oil and wax which when exposed to high temperatures can melt and burn the skin. Considering its harmful effects in cases like bomb blasts, a team of researchers from the University of Southern Mississippi led by Robert Lochhead and funded by the US Department of Defense have developed new camouflage paint from silicon that reflects heat. This paint is said to withstand temperatures of up to 600°C for 15 seconds.

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Since there are rules in the US which make sure that all camouflage face paints should contain an insect repellent called as DEET, which under normal conditions is extremely flammable. The scientists decided to mix it with a water-rich hydrogel substance to make sure that it does not catch fire. Heat resistant paints have existed in the past and have been implemented in many machines but this paint is different as it is waterproof, non-irritating and easy to apply. Developed not for humans alone, this paint can also be used on fire-proof clothes, tents, and tanks. Research is currently underway to make a colorless version of this face paint for firefighters.

Source: Camouflage face paint 'resists intense heat from bombs' - BBC News