Scientists Created an Ultra-Thin Material that Can Stop a Bullet Like Diamond

Imagine a sheet as thin as paper or silk, hardening as tough as a diamond capable of stopping a bullet. How convenient that would be instead of carrying tens of pounds of weight from Kevlar or carbon fiber just to protect yourself from a bullet.

This is exactly what scientists at The City University of New York, or CUNY have accomplished. They discovered a new way to create a material using two layers of graphene that is ultra-thin but could harden like a diamond when subjected to sudden pressure, like a bullet hitting it.

What Is Diamene?

Graphene is a two-dimensional structure made of carbon atoms arranged hexagonal lattice. So this material is already so thin; however, it is not tough enough to stop a bullet. That is why the researchers at CUNY combined not one but two layers of graphene to create a new substance called Diamene.

Diamene, when exposed to sudden force like a bullet, hardens like a diamond, where its carbon atoms reconfigure into a diamond-like lattice. But, the precision must be perfect, not one or three, but two layers of graphene are needed for this effect to take place without needing any external heat or machinery.

Read more: Newsweek | CUNY

How It Stops Bullets

Graphene: The Next Big (But Thin) Thing

The way it stops bullets is similar to diamond’s feature, where it distributes the energy across the whole structure, preventing any penetration. When hit by an external force, the atomic bonds of the structure will stiffen, sometimes more than a diamond, as observed by the researchers, which will create a protective shield against a bullet.

However, it is still a super thin material, and some wonder if it could really stop a close-up bullet shot. The amount of bullets it could take before breaking apart still needs further studies, but it was confirmed that the atoms restructure themselves to be stiff and lock in place, which creates a bullet-resistant barrier despite how thin it is.

Advantages Over Kevlar

Kevlar is the main material used in bulletproof vests because of its exceptional strength and ability to distribute energy received from external impact. It is a synthetic fiber that needs to be combined with fabric and multiple layers to be effectively used in the vests, offering protection against external forces.

But, compared to Diamene, it is thicker, heavier, and less flexible. The Kevlar vests could also be stiff and uncomfortable, unlike Diamene, which feels like an athletic fabric, until it hardens like diamond to stop a bullet.

Read more: Material District

Future Applications & Challenges

The nature of Diamene, being an ultra-thin material that only hardens when needed, makes it more ideal for wider use. From everyday clothing and body armor, to wearable techs and sports gear, it offers mobility and comfort, while not sacrificing the strength to protect.

However, if you think even higher, its applications might also reach various other industries such as aerospace and defense. Rockets, jets, and other defensive systems all need a strong structure to do their jobs. Diamene might offer a new future for all these technologies.

What is kevlar, and why is it so strong? - Max G. Levy

Author's Final Thoughts

Diamene sounds like a technological application from the future, but it is here now. Even if it turns out not to be capable of stopping a bullet completely, it still unlocked the idea that protection could be applied in everyday wearables. The road from lab tests to commercialization is a hard path, but if successful, it will surely revolutionize many different fields, maybe even including fashion and sports.

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