Researchers have developed a material comprised of intelligent molecules which flow with natural movement, but on shock, simply lock together to provide a protective barrier. This is pretty much like the way natural joints in the human body - such as knees - work when subject to shock impact.
Named D3O, the technology is now being actively marketed by a range of sports companies.
The molecules within D3O flow past each other at low rates of movement when a body is moving naturally, but when subject to an impact that requires them to move very quickly they instantaneously link with each other to form a protective barrier.
As soon as the impact has passed they immediately unlock to provide flow and normal flexibility. This all happens in less than a thousandth of a second, and the faster they are impacted the more quickly they react.
Over the past couple of years this technology - developed by UK scientists - has been introduced into materials as diverse as protective pads for horse riders and polo players, shoes for skateboarders, and specialised clothing for fencers.
Richard Palmer and Dr Phil Green have been working on its development since 2000, out of the University of Hertfordshire's research and development centre, and at a design studio in London.
The inspiration for it first came when Dr Green found himself sitting off the piste in the Alps in 1999, nursing a bruised elbow after a snowboarding accident.
"It occurred to me that all the available impact protection systems work on a macro scale, and because of this they are restrictive, uncomfortable and actually pretty ineffective," he said. "I knew if I could get a system to work at a molecular level we could have an amazing product. Five years of research later, we do."
The product is available in two versions - flex and armour.
D3O flex is constructed from three layers - an outer stretch fabric layer, the D3O impact layer and an inner textile designed to wick moisture away from the body - that combine to form the a protective system for extreme ranges of movement.
In all sports applications that involve high speed manoeuvres there is a need to allow the body to have unrestricted movement as well as providing impact protection for the vulnerable parts. With all other protective systems on the market there is a compromise between performance and flexibility, but D3O flex is said to optimise both.
In tests D3O flex outperforms conventional rigid shell protection and semi-rigid composite foam systems. Tests have been performed according to the EN1621 motorcycle protection standard.
D3O armour is constructed from four layers to include a specially-developed armour plate made from a low friction material with high abrasion resistance as a protective system for extreme levels of impact.
