Never get a cracked screen again: Bulletproof super-glass developed

[ahhming]

A new invention may revolutionise smartphone and tablet displays by offering bulletproof glass that won't crack or shatter.

The development has been the result of ten years of work by the US Navy to create a transparent material stronger than bulletproof glass. The result, called Spinel, uses a synthetic powdered clay to offer a translucent material like glass.

"Spinel is actually a mineral, it's magnesium aluminate," said Dr Jas Sanghera,

Spinel can be manipulated to form any shape suggesting it'll even work on curved displays. The material doesn't block any infrared wavelengths of light meaning it will allow bright, colourful displays to work behind its protective layer. It can also be used as a more robust lens for cameras.
 


 

Dr Jas Sanghera, who led the research said: "The advantage is it's so much tougher, stronger, harder than glass. It provides better protection in more hostile environments - so it can withstand sand and rain erosion."

Initially the production of Spinel will be for military use, on camera lenses of drones, armour of vehicles and satellites. But it could, potentially, be used on smartphones and tablets for consumers. As with any scientific development it may take a while to reach production so we're not expecting it to arrive soon.


 The hot press used by the researchers to create Spinel using sintering rather than a crucible(US Naval Research Laboratory)

Source:
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/us-navy-invents-bulletproof-glass-clay-that-could-revolutionise-screens-lenses-1498595

[Zach's Tech Tips]

it may not smash but it might still scratch?

[shawno]

Will it blend?

[shadowblitz3]

could be expensive tho

[Elapo]

could be expensive tho

 

Once they figure out how to mass produce it, the price will drop anyway.

[matjojo]

our footage is made possible by phantom glass???

[The_Strict_Nein]

Bullet resistant

[MrRavens]

our footage is made possible by phantom glass???

Haha, all day er day!

[tobben]

Once they figure out how to mass produce it, the price will drop anyway.

If it can be practical to mass produce that is, there is also material and

equipment cost to think about. Which is my biggest question here, how 

expensive will it be?

 

It sounds cool though, hopefully my next watch will be equipped With

this. (If it's cheaper than Sapphire glass)

[Delusional Phil]

Phatom Glass would be pleased ... 

[MeDownYou]

hmm now only waiting for reasonable cost... oh wait phones cost 400 dollars on launch we'll be good.

[AxelRantila]

I'm interested to see what it costs. And is it bend-tested?

[PercySavageEG]

Bullet resistant

but is it Austin's nipple resistant?

[Trik'Stari]

Once they figure out how to mass produce it, the price will drop anyway.

If it can be practical to mass produce that is, there is also material and

equipment cost to think about. Which is my biggest question here, how 

expensive will it be?

 

It sounds cool though, hopefully my next watch will be equipped With

this. (If it's cheaper than Sapphire glass)

The real question is, "how long before our all knowing overlords decree that it's illegal for us to own...."for safety" "

[-iSynthesis]

I dont understand how you can crack your phones screen anyway - all the way back to my ipod 2 i havent gotten a single crack in any screen ive owned - and believe me i've smashed them in the ground several times...

[Trik'Stari]

I dont understand how you can crack your phones screen anyway - all the way back to my ipod 2 i havent gotten a single crack in any screen ive owned - and believe me i've smashed them in the ground several times...

The same way that someone else on here said you could "snag" a microSD card on something and have it fall out. You know, just like you snag your pinkie fingernail on things all day long.

[Elapo]

The real question is, "how long before our all knowing overlords decree that it's illegal for us to own...."for safety" "

 

We'll get a watered down version, like they did with GPS. We won't be able to make a bullet proof shield out of smartphones.

[Trik'Stari]

We'll get a watered down version, like they did with GPS. We won't be able to make a bullet proof shield out of smartphones.

Well, it is theoretically possible to make your own now, all you'd need is the right epoxy, plastic, panes of glass, and a vacuum forming machine.

 

I mean, I know more than enough to make armor plate for a car. Maybe not good looking or as good as what a manufacturer can do, but I could definitely protect a car from pistol/rifle rounds (maybe not the .50 cal)

[DimasRMDO]

but is it Austin's nipple resistant?

His nipple is unstoppable.

[AxelRantila]

He's nipple is unstoppable.

Even from a Nokia?

[MrDynamicMan]

Well, it is theoretically possible to make your own now, all you'd need is the right epoxy, plastic, panes of glass, and a vacuum forming machine.

I mean, I know more than enough to make armor plate for a car. Maybe not good looking or as good as what a manufacturer can do, but I could definitely protect a car from pistol/rifle rounds (maybe not the .50 cal)

Aaaaaaand, here come the black helicopters.

[Trik'Stari]

Aaaaaaand, here come the black helicopters.

Anyone can learn this stuff from an episode of mythbusters. Hyneman made something out of crushed soda cans epoxied together, covered with tile, and back with thin aluminum sheet.

 

All you need is something hard, like ceramic, to break the initial energy of the round, and something flexible but tough, to "catch" the round.

[TroubleKlef]

Not sure how bullet proof material works but I'm guessing it has to evenly dissipate the kinetic energy of a bullet to a halt. Would this bullet proof glass be enough to stop a bullet with the area the size of a typical smartphone? and also the demands of manufacturers to have the glass as thin as possible? 

[DimasRMDO]

Even from a Nokia?

Different story    

[dizmo]

It likely won't hit the public market for quite a while. It will eventually though.

Pretty much everything cool or useful has come about via military research.

Kind of sad if you really think about it.

 

I dont understand how you can crack your phones screen anyway - all the way back to my ipod 2 i havent gotten a single crack in any screen ive owned - and believe me i've smashed them in the ground several times...

Haha, I've only cracked 2 displays. It's really not hard. One was a 3 inch fall onto a tile floor. Completely shattered the screen and broke the LCD.

The other was me sitting on a log at the beach with my phone in my back pocket. Luckily it's just one crack, and the panel is mint.

 

Do you use a case? If so, that's likely why you haven't.

 

Well, it is theoretically possible to make your own now, all you'd need is the right epoxy, plastic, panes of glass, and a vacuum forming machine.

 

I mean, I know more than enough to make armor plate for a car. Maybe not good looking or as good as what a manufacturer can do, but I could definitely protect a car from pistol/rifle rounds (maybe not the .50 cal)

3M makes a film that you can apply to glass to make it bulletproof. Completely transparent, and only bulletproof from one side.