Posted 03.04.2011 at 2:40 pm
5 Comments
Burning Man
The suit survives surface temperatures of more than 1,800 degrees F.
via YouTube
As the Thrust SuperSonic Car team constructs the 1,000 MPH Bloodhound rocket car, separate teams are working on a protective suit for driver Andy Green, so he feels safe even while driving at ludicrous speed. He’ll wear three layers of a new flame-proof fabric that can survive temperatures in excess of 1,800 degrees F. Watch a double-layer suit burn for 12 seconds in the video below.
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Cars, Rebecca Boyle, 1000, bloodhound, fast, land speed record, racecars, rocket car, rocket racing, supersonic speedsThe material, designed by Lamination Technologies of Pennsylvania, uses artificial fibers spun into a fire-proof yarn. It can be exposed to flame indefinitely without burning, New Scientist says. The suit is made from a special knitting process that also protects against extreme heat.
The prototype in this video was designed for firefighters, but Lamination Technologies will build Green a suit more fitting of a racecar driver. With flameproof sponsorship patches, no doubt.
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does it have a part for the head? because while the suit might not burn for a whole 12 seconds, (actually an amazing feat, as far as making fireproof clothing) the head look pretty vulnerable.
personally my concern would not be fire but impacting the steel hard salt crystals at super sonic speed. make something that can allow the driver to survive that impact.
wait!!!! where is B.V.??? how come he doesn't have anything negative to say about this?????
He said that absolutely NOTHING what so ever would come from the 1000 mile per hour car!
well here is the first invention. a life saving fire proof suit.
hmmm. saving fire fighter lives. thats a pretty dumb invention. dont you think BV???
anyway. Thanks B.V. for taking pot shots at my spelling. its the internet. who takes the time to perfect every single word they type. I type about 100 words a minutes and I dont proofread my comments on message boards. I dont feel like wasting my time. By the way. I am 29 years old. I live in Japan. I am an assistant English Teacher for 4 years now. I speak Japanese, English and little Spanish. I am entering Grad school next year to get my masters in education and I will teach a Jr. High Science class. if you want make fun of me some more go ahead. but I came to this website to talk about science not make fun of articles, good ideas, and popsci users.
caradoc01 - Agreed.
While fire can be big issue when dealing with a rocket-powered vehicle, I'd be concerned about an impact...more likely a breakup of the entire structure itself.
Pack me in fireretardant foam and call me an egg, I wouldn't want to be the one "driving" (surviving) that thing.
I'm pretty certain the driver would be donning a helmet too btw ;)
inaka_rob - no comment
plz
@inaka_rob,
Damn, usually you wait to attack me until after I leave a comment... in this case you've done a pre-emptive strike! LOL.
Dude, did you even read the article?
"The prototype in this video was designed for firefighters, but Lamination Technologies will build Green a suit more fitting of a racecar driver."
They made the damn fabric for firefighters--a practical use.
If anything this is another example of the Bloodhound car using technologies that already have been created for other uses (like fighter-jet engines, and fireproof suits).
And... again... my argument was that it's more efficient to focus your resources towards creating whatever practical product you want to create instead of focusing on setting a record that might have some "side-effect" benefits.