A team from Texas A&M University and the U.S. Army Research Laboratory has created a composite material that redefines impact absorption. By combining conventional foam with a 3D-printed structure, this development overcomes the cost and manufacturing limitations of designed cellular materials, opening the door to more effective protective gear.
Additive Manufacturing in Foam (IFAM): precision in a chaotic matrix 🧠
The key is the IFAM technique, which prints a network of plastic columns with controlled geometry and elasticity within a base foam. This hybrid structure solves two problems: the randomness of traditional foams and the complexity of designed cellular materials. The columns distribute the force, prevent premature buckling, and allow the assembly to dissipate up to ten times more kinetic energy.
Your next bike helmet could have military ancestry ⚙️
It's curious to think that technology designed to withstand explosions under an armored vehicle will hopefully end up on our heads while pedaling. We'll go from dodging bullets to dodging potholes, but with a style derived from military R&D. Who would have thought that the next revolution in road safety would be born in an army laboratory. That said, let's hope the price doesn't also inherit its military scalability.