As the title of this post explains, the material known as d3o does come from a almost fantasy world. The US and CANADA team are wearing these high tech suits in the Winter Olympics in Torino 2006.
The exact chemical combinations of d3o are secret. However d3o Labs say that the ”material is synthesised by mixing together a viscose fluid and a polymer. Following synthesis, liquid d3o is poured into a mould that matches the shape of the body part it will protect.”
”Under normal conditions the molecules within the material are weakly bound and can move past each with ease, making the material flexible. But the shock of sudden deformation causes the chemical bonds to strengthen and the moving molecules to lock, turning the material into a more solid, protective shield.”
Via NewScientist
Cool! this is some high tech scifi stuff
A mixture of corn starch and water does basically the same thing. Try it! Mix it in a cup and watch it fluidly move around (at least as fluid as, say, honey), but jab it with your finger and it doesn’t move at all.