D3O (formally "D3o") is a polyurethane energy-absorbing material containing several additives

and polyborodimethylsiloxane[1] a dilatant non-Newtonian fluid.[2]

Polyborodimethylsiloxane[1] is a substance called a dilatant that in its raw state flows freely but
on shock locks together to absorb and disperse energy as heat before returning to its semi-
fluid state. The commercial material known as D3O is, in essence, a closed-cell polyurethane
foam composite with polyborodichdmethylsiloxane (PBDMS) as the dilatant dispersed through
the foam matrix[1] which makes the product rate-sensitive thus dissipating more energy than
plain polyurethane at specific energy levels. The patent cites optimal proportions for a shock-
absorbing foam composite formulaee: by volume, 15–35% of PBDMS and 40–70% fluid (the
gas resulting from the foaming process, generally carbon dioxide) the remainder being
polyurethane[3]. D3O's technology is found in many sports equipment such as body armour.
British engineers Dr Phil Green and Richard Palmer discovered the material in 1999, first
isolating it at the University of Hertfordshire. Palmer and Green went on to found the firm D3O
Lab to develop and market the product.

History
[4][5]
The company commercialized the D3O material in 2006. In 2009, the UK Ministry of
Defence awarded D3O Lab £100,000 to fit helmets in order to reduce the kinetic energy of a
bullet or shrapnel on impact, because of its moldable properties.[6]

D3O applications

An example of D3O being used in

a kneepad.

D3O has been applied in the following areas:

 Military[6]

Workwear

Medical[7]

Sports, including ski and snowboard, lacrosse, baseball, fencing, cricket,[8] volleyball, tennis,
squash, ballet, boxing, shooting and sailing, mountain biking and cycling, equestrian and
water sports[9]

Motorcycle apparel

Footwear

Cases for electronic devices[10][11]

Ice skating and figure skating[12]

See also

Sorbothane

References

1. Palmer, Richard (2008). "Energy absorbing material" . US Patent 7,794,827 – via USPTO.

2. "Shock factor – d3o" . physics.org. 27 May 2009. Retrieved 7 September 2012.

3. Richard Palmer & Philip Green for Design Blue Ltd, Shock Absorbing Material US patent
7,381,460 B2, https://patents.google.com/patent/US7381460

4. "A Superhero Suit for Athletes" . Bloomberg BusinessWeek. 13 October 2006. Archived
from the original on 4 August 2011. Retrieved 7 September 2012. Article was written by
Maria Kamenev, a BusinessWeek intern.

5. "Real-life 'Flubber', made in the UK, saving lives in war zones and on the football field" .
The Daily Telegraph. 19 August 2014.

6. Harding, Thomas (27 February 2009). "Military to use new gel that stops bullets" . The
Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 7 September 2012.
 7. "Hip Impact Protection Ltd is delighted to announce the launch of its innovative, next
generation aid in the protection of hips of the frail and elderly, especially those with
osteoporosis" . hospital-technology.com. 15 March 2011. Archived from the original on
24 March 2012. Retrieved 7 September 2012.

8. "d3o™" . Gm-cricket.com. Archived from the original on 27 August 2012. Retrieved

7 September 2012.

9. "Sports – D3O Lab" . D3o.com. 15 September 2010. Archived from the original on 25
October 2010. Retrieved 7 September 2012.

10. "The UK's No. 1 Protective Phone Cases featuring D3O® Technology" . Gear4.com.

11. "Grip Case >> dbrand" . dbrand.com.

12. "D30 Ice Skating Pants" .

External links

Official website

"d3o Creates Intelligent Material for Use in Protective Clothing"

"Shock factor"

Business Week Article