Bomb-Proof Bubble Wrap
Posted 11.08.2005 at 3:00 am
1 Comment
geninnBubbleWrap_485.jpg
It looks like Bubble Wrap, but BlastWrap isn't for cushioning eBay shipments. A BlastWrap-lined garbage can will dissipate a backpack-size-bomb blast in less than one thousandth of a second. The wrap's 2.75-inch compartments are stuffed with heat-treated perlite (the foamy pellets found in potting soil), a volcanic glass. The beads have a strong internal structure of sealed, air-filled cells. When a blast occurs, the cells are crushed one by one, minimizing damage to the surrounding area, while fire extinguishants snuff the fireball. Trash cans in Washington, D.C.'s Metro stations are now equipped with BlastWrap.
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Five amazing, clean technologies that will set us free, in this month's energy-focused issue. Also: how to build a better bomb detector, the robotic toys that are raising your children, a human catapult, the world's smallest arcade, and much more.
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If you think about it, all of our labs or facilities with serious hazard should have this type of thing as interior shielding. I've made blast-proof rooms for all manner of applications, but a semi-solid version heavy duty version of this would be a significant construction advance.