Bullet-proof custard: British soldiers could be wearing revolutionary new liquid body armour within two years

Ian Drury - A revolutionary new form of body armour nicknamed 'bullet-proof custard' has been invented to help save British troops' lives.

Scientists have created a top-secret substance that absorbs the force of a shot or shrapnel by thickening and hardening instantly on impact.

Defence chiefs believe bulletproof jackets made from the goo will be lighter, more flexible and offer greater protection for soldiers on the battlefield.

The hi-tech 'liquid armour' was showcased at a defence conference in London today at which companies displayed an array of James Bond-style gadgets and gizmos.

Researchers have inserted the futuristic formula - called a 'shear thickening fluid' - between sheets of traditional Kevlar to produce the 'super armour'.

The liquid has been compared to custard because the molecules lock together and 'thicken' in the same way as the dessert sauce reacts to being stirred when heated.

Experts say this will create armour that is about half as heavy as standard bullet-proof vests which allows greater manoeuvrability for troops.

Soldiers currently struggle with bulky body armour made up of ceramic plates and layered Kevlar, which is five times stronger than steel but can restrict movement.

It is also uncomfortable in hot war zones like Afghanistan, where temperatures soar in the summer to 50C. ...

via Bullet-proof custard: British soldiers could be wearing revolutionary new liquid body armour within two years | Mail Online.