War Paint with a Twist

Every year, the explosions of over 16,000 IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices) kill and wound US and NATO military service men and women deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan. The number of IEDs is from a count done in 2011, and that count is only expected to rise in this year and the next. As of 1 October 2012, more than 50 soldiers had been killed by shrapnel and IED explosions.

The problem with IEDs is that they are buried, and when riding in a bumping and shaking vehicle, they are almost impossible to detect. In recent months, soldiers have been getting training in the detection and defusing of the bombs. IEDs do not just create shrapnel, they also create a huge amount of heat—more than 1000 degrees Fahrenheit--when the explosives detonate.  This heat can do catastrophic damage to any exposed body parts, cook skin, and even set clothing on fire. Soldiers have received burns that can only be called gruesome, and for that reason, no further detail will be given.

Presented at a meeting of the American Chemical Society, a new paint has been designed to combat this problem. It would be applied to soldier’s faces, and would shield them from the extreme temperatures created in a bomb blast. The Army has used face paint before, but it has been made with hydrocarbom compounds, which burn easily and can amplify the effect of the massive temperature increase.  The Army also requires that the paint contain 35% DEET, another flammable substance that is used to keep bugs away.  The new paint, while still incorporating the DEET, uses less flammable silicon compounds, and uses a hydrogel around it. The hydrogel is made up of mostly water. An IED explosion’s heat lasts for around 2 seconds, but this new paint has been tested to last for up to 15 seconds. This is a big step forward in protecting our troops, and when combined with the D30 from below, many families won’t have to receive that dreaded visit from the two uniformed service members.                                      

Newly-developed face paint that shields soldiers' faces from high temperatures.

By: Jake Roth