The world of personal protection has long faced a dilemma: the more durable a body armor is, the heavier and less comfortable it becomes. But researchers at the City University of New York (CUNY) have made a breakthrough by creating a material that remains light and flexible under normal conditions, but instantly hardens upon impact, transforming into a super-strong barrier.
The innovative material is based on graphene, the world's thinnest material consisting of a single layer of carbon atoms. Scientists combined two layers of graphene at a certain angle and created conditions under which, when suddenly loaded, for example, by a bullet, an instant structural rearrangement occurs inside the material.
During such an impact, the carbon bonds within the material rearrange, forming a short-lived diamond-like structure. This process is called shock-induced phase transformation. It lasts for nanoseconds, but provides incredible toughness at the moment of danger. As soon as the load disappears, the material returns to a flexible state, retaining its properties for further use.
Compared to traditional Kevlar or carbon fiber body armor, the new material has the unique advantage of being extremely lightweight while providing the same level of protection. This could potentially allow for armor that feels like regular clothing without restricting the movement of soldiers, rescue workers, or police officers.
The material's potential applications extend far beyond the defense sector. Thanks to its light weight and flexibility, it could be a breakthrough in aviation and aerospace — to protect equipment from micrometeorite impacts or to create ultralight but ultra-strong housings. In the civilian sector, graphene armor could find a place in flexible electronics, smartphones, and wearable devices, where both strength and elasticity are important.
The material is currently in the laboratory testing phase. Scientists are working to make its production large-scale and affordable. If successful, the world will receive a technology that can change not only the defense industry, but also the design of gadgets, architecture and transportation of the future.
