Skip to main content

Sounds crazy, but this liquid body armor is more bulletproof than Kevlar

liquid body armor bulletproof vest
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Have you ever played with that weird goop (sometimes called “oobleck”) that you can make by mixing water and corn starch together in the proper proportions? You know; that stuff that’ll ooze through your fingers if you hold it in your hand, but feels hard as a rock when you try to squeeze or punch it? Well believe it or not, a Polish company by the name of Moratex has developed a new type of bulletproof vest that uses almost the exact same technology.

Rather than being filled with a rigid substance like Kevlar, this vest is filled with a special type of non-Newtonian fluid that Moratex is simply calling Shear-Thickening Fluid (STF). Think of this stuff as a souped-up, chemically perfected version of oobleck. When a force is applied to it, it causes the liquid’s viscosity to increase. The more force you apply, the more viscous the material becomes — so when it’s struck with a high-velocity projectile (like a bullet), the fluid becomes incredibly hard almost instantaneously.

Liquid body armour tested in Poland

Amazingly, despite looking no more bulletproof than maple syrup, the STF is more effective at stopping projectiles than a piece of solid Kevlar. Even the most rigid material will tend to bend inward a few centimeters when hit with a fast-moving projectile, but Moratex’s specially designed STF insert will only experience one centimeter of indentation when hit with a bullet moving at 1,400 feet per second or faster. This ultimately translates to less impact felt by the wearer, and less risk of being seriously injured.

Recommended Videos

And the benefits don’t end there. In addition to stopping bullets more effectively, Moratex’s liquid armor is also lighter and more flexible than traditional bulletproof vests, so it doesn’t restrict the wearer’s movement as much.

Please enable Javascript to view this content

Bulletproofing is just the beginning, too. According to Moratex, STF has applications beyond body armor, and could be used in things like professional sports inserts, car bumpers, or road barriers.

Drew Prindle
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Drew Prindle is an award-winning writer, editor, and storyteller who currently serves as Senior Features Editor for Digital…
Hyundai Ioniq 5 sets world record for greatest altitude change
hyundai ioniq 5 world record altitude change mk02 detail kv

When the Guinness World Records (GWR) book was launched in 1955, the idea was to compile facts and figures that could finally settle often endless arguments in the U.K.’s many pubs.

It quickly evolved into a yearly compilation of world records, big and small, including last year's largest grilled cheese sandwich in the world.

Read more
Global EV sales expected to rise 30% in 2025, S&P Global says
ev sales up 30 percent 2025 byd sealion 7 1stbanner l

While trade wars, tariffs, and wavering subsidies are very much in the cards for the auto industry in 2025, global sales of electric vehicles (EVs) are still expected to rise substantially next year, according to S&P Global Mobility.

"2025 is shaping up to be ultra-challenging for the auto industry, as key regional demand factors limit demand potential and the new U.S. administration adds fresh uncertainty from day one," says Colin Couchman, executive director of global light vehicle forecasting for S&P Global Mobility.

Read more
Faraday Future could unveil lowest-priced EV yet at CES 2025
Faraday Future FF 91

Given existing tariffs and what’s in store from the Trump administration, you’d be forgiven for thinking the global race toward lower electric vehicle (EV) prices will not reach U.S. shores in 2025.

After all, Chinese manufacturers, who sell the least expensive EVs globally, have shelved plans to enter the U.S. market after 100% tariffs were imposed on China-made EVs in September.

Read more