Without any apparent acknowledgement of the U.S. military research that its Florida–based subsidiary had once licensed to develop, spokesmen for the U.K.–based global defense corporation BAE Systems told members of the British press in early July that they have found a way to improve how Kevlar is used in making body armor vests using shear thickening fluid technology, or STF. The company's successful test results are raising hopes that lighter–weight and more supple protective body armor is closer to fruition while leaving U.S. researchers and the University of Delaware officials puzzled. You see, according to Bradley Yops, who oversees the university's licensing of the technology, the university terminated BAE's licensing rights months ago.
Combat zone troops struggle under the bulk and weight of plated body armor, enduring more than a fair share of fatigue in a trade–off for
protection from bullets and shrapnel on a limited area of torso. A solution may involve the addition of this innovative shear thickening fluid to
layered Kevlar. The STF is composed of nano–sized particles suspended in a non–evaporating fluid. Nicknamed "bullet–proof custard" by the BAE Systems
staff, the compound offers significant resistance to projectiles because the molecules lock together under pressure – so much so that 10 layers of
Kevlar painted with the "custard" outperforms 31 layers of Kevlar alone. When the pressure is removed, the treated Kevlar returns to a pliant state.
In the U.S., shear thickening fluid (STF) technology is known by another nickname, liquid armor, and that's because it was invented in the United
States. (Moreover, it does not harden during normal motion, so the BAE spokesperson's imagery of stirring a bowl of custard is somewhat lacking.)
Although it appears that ongoing development of liquid armor for protective gear is now in the hands of BAE Systems, the STF technology was initially
developed by University of Delaware chemical engineering professor Norman J. Wagner, Ph.D., and U.S. Army Research Laboratory staff member Eric D.
Wetzel, Ph.D., based at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds in Maryland. These scientists first
began publishing and presenting their findings in 2002, and were also honored that year with the Paul A. Siple Award, the Army's highest award
for scientific achievement.
News of the researchers' quest for protective clothing using the so–called liquid armor reached the mainstream media:Scientific American first reported it in May 2006, and by August 2006, Business Week was also reporting on it, noting that Armor Holdings, based
in Jacksonville, FL, had purchased the rights to the team's STF technology earlier in the year. Those in the business world might have seen a New York
Post report reprinted on a D&B news site of the
six–year exclusive license deal for Armor Holdings to develop protective body garments for military and civilian use.
When the U.S. military and a civilian entity (such as the University of Delaware) cooperate in research, the civilian entity often retains the
right to license the resulting technology for non–federal sales.
BAE Systems, however, acquired Armor Holdings soon after, in mid–2007. The company's web site states that "the acquisition clearly underscores BAE Systems' stated
strategy of expanding and developing its business in the U.S."
Sequential photos and videos of the testing results
announced at BAE Systems advanced research facility in Bristol show that projectiles do not penetrate as deeply into Kevlar layers
enhanced with the STF, and the force is dissipated over a broader area of the protective vest than with the current body armor design. In other words,
Kevlar (a registered trademark product of Dupont) with the new liquid requiring fewer layers is not only lighter, it protects much better.
Because the new liquid is relatively lightweight, the protective gear that may be produced with it is hoped to significantly reduce the fatigue
experienced by soldiers who are now wearing vests of heavy plates and police who wear multi-layered Kevlar vests. The innovative and lighter weight
Kevlar–and–liquid combination may lead to having greater coverage of the body while enabling greater maneuverability for combat troops and civilian
police officers.
The STF technology developed by Dr. Wagner and Dr. Wetzel at the Army Research Laboratory there "performs just incredibly" in creating a
protective fabric that could be worn by prison guards, according to Mike Rausa of the Technology Transfer Office at the Aberdeen Proving Grounds. He
has seen for himself how effectively the liquid armor prevents penetration of pointed objects such as those that might be wielded by some inmates. As
for when the U.S. military might expect to be able to purchase clothing or gear enhanced with STF technology, Mr. Rausa, who is familiar with the
University of Delaware's licensing of STF to Armor Holdings, said that he has not heard of any procurement orders being issued.
It may come as a surprise to some Americans that inventions and new technology developed by the U.S. government and the military – alone or in
cooperation with private parties – can be licensed to businesses for development and profit. As for BAE subsidiary Armor Holdings and BAE Systems
itself (with U.S. headquarters in Arlington, VA), the news trail has not been entirely positive. In May, current and former executives of Armor
Holdings were indicted on multiple violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act as a result of a Department of Justice sting operation in
Jacksonville. Richard Bistron, the former
VP of international sales for Armor Holdings, was charged with paying bribes for contracts from 2001 to 2006. Some may remember
Armor Holdings as producing problematic Z Shield bullet–proof vests of Zylon; the company settled by paying the U.S. $30 million. The Defense Industry Daily has reported that BAE Systems
has been under scrutiny for years, not only by the U.S. Department of Justice, but also by the United Kingdom's Serious Fraud Office. Earlier this
year, BAE Systems pleaded guilty to conspiring to make false statements to the U.S. government, settling by paying a $400 million fine.
Armor Holdings and parent BAE Systems are not the only ones who admire the STF technology developed by Dr. Wagner and Dr. Wetzel. You can watch a video of Russia Today reporting that Russian researchers have begun working with STF
technology in Moscow. At least the Russians credited the United States with originating the innovative STF technology.
Photo provided courtesy of U.S. Army Research Laboratory
