Fly Bag: Bomb proof luggage for safer air travel

Researchers at the University of Sheffield, UK in collaboration with Blastech Ltd. have developed a new travel bag that is bomb proof. Termed the ‘Fly Bag’, this new form of luggage, researchers hope will replace the cumbersome and bulky travel accessories, currently in use.

Bomb-proof bag

The team at the University is using shear-thickening-fluid (STF) technology to make the Fly Bag a multipurpose bag – a light carry bag with more space to pack and also explosive proof. The STF technology involves coating the bag with a special with a special elastomeric cover and filling a space within the bag with ‘shear thickening liquid’.

The main objective behind choosing elastomers for the purpose is that these are ‘low-stiffness’ materials that can resist ‘high strain’. The Fly Bag has been developed with an elastomer with the quality to resist high temperatures and flames. The idea is to provide the luggage with a ‘heat resistant’ gas stopper.

In the event of a fire or explosion on board a flight, the STF technology in the Fly Bag responds to heat and flame by increasing density of the shear thickening liquid. Basically the particles in a STF repel each other under normal temperatures. As the temperature rise the particles react by clumping together i.e. the high energy environment proves to be a stronger force than the repulsive forces in between the STF particles.

When these particles stick together they form something called a ‘hydrocluster’. These hydroclusters then keep bumping into each other, in the process increasing the viscosity of the liquid. Researchers say that a simple STF can be created with the correct mixture of corn flour and water. When rolled as a ball, the mixture will become hard and can easily be made to bounce on a hard surface. If left alone the entire mixture will change state and turn into liquid.

Under extreme heat, the technology used in the Fly Bag causes the liquid to become more dense with increasing heat. As a result the exterior cover of the bag becomes very hard and manages to resist damage from excessively high temperatures. Scientists feel that if the Fly Bag is a success, then they can create body armor with the same technology. Considering the progress being made on the development of the Fly Bag, researchers are confident that the finished product will with available in retail outlets in another two years.

Via Cosmiclog