Space Travel News  
A Whole New Type Of Protective Armour

File image.
by Staff Writers
Porton Down, UK (SPX) Jan 21, 2009
Developing protective vehicle armour with holes in it may not seem the most obvious way to increase protection for British troops on operations but that's just what MOD scientists are doing.

Since 2000, the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL) at Porton Down in Wiltshire has worked in collaboration with Cambridge University and QinetiQ to develop Super Bainite, a unique ultra-hard armour material.

It may seem like a strange solution but introducing holes to vehicle armour can actually provide a protective advantage. DSTL scientist Professor Peter Brown explained:

"You shouldn't think of them as holes, you should think of them as edges. When a bullet hits an edge, it gets deflected, and turns from a sharp projectile into a blunt fragment - which is much easier to stop."

The introduction of holes also reduces weight he adds and doubles the ballistic performance, making perforated Super Bainite steel armour ballistically very efficient.

Invented, designed and manufactured in the UK, Super Bainite is an experimental high performance armour steel developed to save the lives of UK Armed Forces and the armour has performed well in ballistic testing at the Ministry of Defence's firing ranges.

Unlike conventional steels, the composition of Super Bainite was derived from first principles using thermodynamic modelling techniques. This allowed its processing, properties and cost to be optimised in months rather than years.

It has been know since the 1930s that certain heat treatments alter the fine-scale structure of steel creating a 'phase' called bainite, but in collaboration with steelmaker Corus, DSTL scientists have developed a new manufacturing process, which allows the alloy to be produced quickly and cost effectively.

Whilst other armour steels need to be quenched and tempered, Super Bainite develops its properties by a low temperature mechanism called isothermal hardening. This enables ultra-high levels of hardness to be achieved without having to use expensive alloying additions.

Isothermal hardening involves the steel being heated to 1,000C, cooled to about 200C, and then held at this temperature for a period of time before cooling to room temperature. This is how the Super Bainite develops its exceptional strength.

Traditionally the MOD has utilised offshore suppliers to fulfil its specialist armour requirements. However, following the successful industrial production trials, directed by DSTL in partnership with Corus and Bodycote, the UK is now well placed to develop a secure onshore supply of specialist, high hardness steel armour.

Professor Peter Brown added:

"Due to the unique process by which we have developed this new armour, Super Bainite is able to match the ballistic performance of the best off-shore armour steels at reduced cost."

Related Links
Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (DSTL)
The latest in Military Technology for the 21st century at SpaceWar.com



Memory Foam Mattress Review
Newsletters :: SpaceDaily :: SpaceWar :: TerraDaily :: Energy Daily
XML Feeds :: Space News :: Earth News :: War News :: Solar Energy News


Persians may have gassed ancient Romans
London (UPI) Jan 20, 2009
A British archaeologist says soldiers in the Persian Empire may have used poisonous gases on the ancient Roman city of Dura in eastern Syria.







  • Giant Rockets Could Revolutionize Astronomy
  • Battle Of The Launches All Over Again
  • NASA Tests Engine Technology For Landing Astronauts On The Moon
  • Flometrics Tests BioDiesel As Rocket Fuel

  • Japan Resets H2A Launch To Jan 23
  • Sea Launch Selected To Launch Intelsat 17
  • New Skies NSS-9 Satellite Arrives In Kourou For February 12 Launch
  • First ULA Delta IV Heavy NRO Mission Successfully Lifts Off From Cape Canaveral

  • Discovery Ready To Roll
  • Sharks Fly With Shuttle On Return Trip
  • NASA describes final moments of Columbia tragedy
  • NASA gives crew safety tips after detailing Columbia tragedy

  • Kogod Students Pioneer Branding Potential Of International Space Station
  • Spacehab To Support Pre-Launch Preparations For Russian Module
  • Russia Tests Phone Home To Santa Network
  • ISS Astronauts Successfully Complete Spacewalk

  • Virgin Galactic Offers Accreditation To Nordic Travel Agents
  • NASA Adds Prizes To 2009 Rice Business Plan Competition
  • South Africa To Establish Space Agency
  • UF Alumnus Works On New NASA Spacecraft Orion

  • China plans own satellite navigation system by 2015: state media
  • Fengyun-3A Weather Satellite Begins Weather Monitoring
  • Shenzhou-7 Monitor Satellite Finishes Mission After 100 Days In Space
  • China Launches Third Fengyun-2 Series Weather Satellite

  • Japan researchers unveil robot suit for farmers
  • Will GI Roboman Replace GI Joe
  • Marshall Sponsors Four Student Teams In FIRST Robotics Competitions
  • Jump Like A Grasshopper

  • Mars polar water is pure: study
  • Satellite Antenna Enables Discovery Of Buried Glaciers On Mars
  • ISRO Processes Propellant Booster For Mars Program
  • Dead Or Alive Mars Pumps Methane

  • The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright Space.TV Corporation. AFP and UPI Wire Stories are copyright Agence France-Presse and United Press International. ESA Portal Reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space.TV Corp on any Web page published or hosted by Space.TV Corp. Privacy Statement