From an Orange Goo to a Protective Gear
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Oobleck is the gooey material with one of the weirdest properties. When cornstarch and water are mixed, Oobleck can be created. The mixture acts like a liquid if you swish it gently in a bowl. Add pressure or hit it hard, then the mixture feels like a solid. Most of us who have played with Oobleck know it’s from “Dr. Seuss’ “Bartholomew and the Oobleck”. However, this substance is not only used as a toy for kids but also as a revolutionary technology for protection. Scientists refer to “Oobleck” as a “non-Newtonian fluid”, whose particles interact in ways that cause their behaviour to change under different conditions, such as sometimes solid and sometimes liquid. A material was made based on Oobleck, or non-Newtonian material. This non-Newtonian material somehow has found its way into our daily lives, protecting us from hard impacts. It is D3O, the orange goo that changed the world.
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D3O is a technology solution that offers shock absorption and protection. This material is made up of non-Newtonian particles that do not behave the same way as others do. The unique property of non-Newtonian particles is known as "strain rate sensitivity". Under normal conditions, the molecules within the material are weakly bound, allowing them to move past each other easily, making the material flexible. However, when a strong force hits it, the molecules lock together, dispersing and absorbing energy from the impact, making it difficult to penetrate. D3O is so effective that it can even protect an egg from cracking when it is covered over and slammed into with a hammer. This substance has recently been used in sports and tactical gear, as it can be flexible and resistant to any impact.
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To learn more about D3O, it's important to know about its founders - Richard Palmer and Philip Green. It all started with an idea that Palmer had 30 years ago while snowboarding. He realized that the protective gear available at the time wasn't effective in protecting against the impact of falls or rolling. So he started thinking of a material that could provide "intelligent shock absorption" to allow for freedom of movement while also providing protection. In the late 1990s, Palmer and Green began experimenting with a dilatant liquid that had never found a commercial application beyond children's toys - Oobleck. As snowboarders, they drew inspiration from snow and decided to replicate its matrix-like quality to develop a flexible material that incorporated the fluid. The liquid needed to be dissolved into a liquid precursor of polyurethane foam as a material made to make the substance and not a coating. This discovery led them to make a flexible, pliable material that locks together and solidifies in the event of a collision, D3O.
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D3O technology has various applications, including protective gear for armies and athletes. In 2006, Palmer, Green, and their team collaborated with snow-wear manufacturers to equip the US and Canadian Olympic teams. Interestingly, D3O technology is also used in everyday life, such as in smartphone cases, which makes them more durable and protective. Additionally, D3O technology is applied in helmets and knee pads and is looking forward to further usage. Currently, the D3O lab is researching different ways to enhance D3O's ability to protect against bullets and knives, going a step closer to making the ideal protective material.
Photos and Citation:
First Image: https://www.d3o.com/
Second Image: https://www.musto.com.au/pages/d3o-impact-technology
Third Image: https://www.epo.org/en/news-events/european-inventor-award/meet-the-finalists/richard-palmer-and-philip-green
Fourth Image: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Hand_protection.jpg
Citation
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/jan/10/pioneer-richard-palmer
https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=MzJowUKgxNU
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vC4WwXqzSsU
https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn8721-us-and-canadian-skiers-get-smart-armour/
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