D3o


D3O is a polyurethane energy-absorbing material containing several additives and polyborodimethylsiloxane a dilatant non-Newtonian fluid.
Polyborodimethylsiloxane is a substance called a dilatant that in its raw state flows freely but on shock locks together to absorb and disperse energy as heat before returning to its semi-fluid state. The commercial material known as D3O is, in essence, a closed-cell polyurethane foam composite with polyborondimethylsiloxane as the dilatant dispersed through the foam matrix which makes the product rate-sensitive thus dissipating more energy than plain polyurethane at specific energy levels. The patent cites optimal proportions for a shock-absorbing foam composite formula: by volume, 15–35% of PBDMS and 40–70% fluid the remainder being polyurethane. D3O's technology is found in many sports equipment such as body armour. British engineers Dr Phil Green and Richard Palmer discovered the material in 1999, first isolating it at the University of Hertfordshire. Palmer and Green went on to found the firm D3O Lab to develop and market the product.

History

The company commercialized the D3O material in 2006. In 2009, the UK Ministry of Defence awarded D3O Lab £100,000 to fit helmets in order to reduce the kinetic energy of a bullet or shrapnel on impact, because of its moldable properties.

D3O applications

D3O has been applied in the following areas:
While D3o is a rate sensitive material, a goo used to demonstrate its properties is not D3o, as D3o is not processed in that way. Additionally, many products that claim to use D3o are PU foam. In majority of products, there is no PBDMS.