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2005-09-16 Home Front: Tech

NMSU Physical Science Laboratory Helps Put The ICE On Explosives In Iraq

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Posted by DanNY 2005-09-16 06:31|| || Front Page|| [7 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Very, very good. And fast, too, which makes it even better.

Posted by trailing wife 2005-09-16 12:23|| 2005-09-16 12:23|| Front Page Top

#2 One innovation against IEDs I could recommend would be a modification of a non-lethal weapon developed some years ago.

A large amount of a green, gooey and sticky substance was squirted on a person that would physically immobilize him. This large amount could be fired from a small container, and was contemplated for use either man-fired or as an "explosive"-like charge in the back of a paddy wagon or armored car. It did not prove to be suitable for various reasons as an anti-personnel weapon.

However, a canister of a similar substance could be fired from a very short, say 4" long, but very wide, perhaps 8" barrel, in an arc which would have it detonate over an IED. Hopefully laying about a 10' x 10' blanket of thick goo over the devise.

The idea is that the blast would lift it up a bit, like a fart under a sheet, but the goo would catch the vast majority of fragment and shrapnel given off by the bomb in its upward cone.

Posted by Anonymoose 2005-09-16 14:29|| 2005-09-16 14:29|| Front Page Top

#3 LOL 'moose. Nice analogy.

But if you see it, why not just detonate it?

Posted by Shipman 2005-09-16 16:38|| 2005-09-16 16:38|| Front Page Top

#4 how about thousands of little fart blankets w/large brains?

Posted by Red Dog 2005-09-16 19:46|| 2005-09-16 19:46|| Front Page Top

#5 Shipman: good question. Not all IEDs are the same, mostly because of the fusing, which is most likely wire electric, radio electric, time electric, or time burning fuse.

The electronic IED detonator now deployed tries to create milli-amperage overcharges to set off the explosives at a distance, but it is not universally effective. And robots, while far superior to risking EOD or other personnel, are still expensive. Just firing weapons at explosives may or may not work, again, depending on circumstances.

The green goo, however, as an easy to use, cheap pseudo-mortar, would not replace any of these, just augument them. If it worked (being hypothetical for this purpose), I see it as giving an extra layer of protection from both blast and shrapnel, which could make all the difference in the world.

I got the idea from a different oddity that has made an appearance in Bagdad. It was discovered that the same, spray-on pickup truck bed liner used in the US, when sprayed on concrete block, was remarkably effective at holding the block together, instead of having it become shrapnel when a large explosion happened next to it. The block would be thoroughly shattered, but mostly held together by the paint instead of injuring the people on the other side of the wall.

The green goo in liquid form doesn't take up much space, but when exposed to air, forms a very large volume of sticky foam that can definitely immobilize a large man if sprayed on him. It is called a "polymer-based superadhesive agent that is extremely persistent and is virtually impossible to remove without a liquid solvent."

When military units arrive on a street scene, they immediately are on the lookout for IEDs. They can be disguised as many things, even street curbs, and the troops are very nervous until they are pretty certain that there are no bombs around.

The green stuff would be that little extra insurance, so if they suspect that something is loaded, first they spray it with green stuff, just to be on the safe side. If it isn't an IED, no harm done.

Posted by Anonymoose 2005-09-16 20:45|| 2005-09-16 20:45|| Front Page Top

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