A research team has shown how a metal foam made of metal microspheres is able to stop large bullets fired from assault weapons or shotguns.
An armor made (also) of air
With the same protection, the weight of this metal foam is exactly half of what a classic steel armor can reach, and not only: the CMF (Composite metal foam) also protects against weapons capable of piercing it, steel .
Researchers Jacob Marx, Marc Portanova and Afsaneh Rabiei have worked for a long time on an aluminum foam to test all its characteristics. The aluminum foam proved to be a very interesting viaticum to perfect. The final result was obtained by assembling a panel structure (almost a sort of sandwich) made up of a ceramic plate, a CMF core and a thin aluminum rear plate.
In other words, 15 years of development have not passed in vain, and they will guarantee armored vehicles substantial improvements in weight, performance and economic efficiency without sacrificing protection, indeed extending it as a fire shield, heat and different types of radiation.
The results of the experiments are reported in the journal Composite Structures.
