Revolutionary new material that is non-cuttable and lightweight.
Increased protection against angle grinders and power drills, and from blast and ballistic threats.
Multiple uses - security doors, locks and safes, and vehicle protection.
Inspired by nature
Abalone sea creatures have shells that combine hard calcium carbonate crystals interleaved with softer layers of viscoelastic proteins.
The interlinking of hard tiles in the softer material maximises their resistance to cracking, even when being crushed between shark’s teeth.
Grapefruit peel is a highly porous, hierarchical structure, which protects the fruit from rupturing when it falls down from several meters and impacts the ground.
How Proteus Material works
Vibratory action.
When a cutting tool attempts to cut through Proteus Material, chips break off the ceramic spheres and begin to vibrate, powered by the vibrational waves from the tool. This vibratory action works against the cutting tool, destroying it.
Lightweight and deformable.
The porous, metallic matrix means the material is lightweight, while keeping the material deformable and able to absorb shock loading in a ductile, and not brittle fashion.
Stiff ceramics and cellular aluminium.
Proteus Material uses a contrast of stiff ceramics and cellular aluminium. This makes the material very resilient.
Tougher than hardened steel.
Proteus Material performs better than hardened steel in tests, and it is also much lighter.
Developing Proteus Material
Proteus Material was developed by Stefan Szyniszewski, Assistant Professor of Applied Mechanics, in Durham's Department of Engineering, working with the Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology (Fraunhofer IWU) and colleagues at University of Surrey, Durham University and the Centre for Applied Science and Technology (CAST) of the UK Home Office.
News and events
Proteus Material exhibits at Eurosatory 2022, Paris
The Proteus team exhibited and presented at Eurosatory, Europe’s leading trade event for the defence industry, in June 2022. Pictured above are the Proteus team, with Dr Thomas Hipke from Fraunhofer IWU, our strategic partner.
The popular YouTube channel, SciShow, featured Proteus Material on October 26, 2020
Proteus Material was also presented on the CGTN TV Network on August 8th, 2020
Proteus Material featured on the Gadget Show on the UK’s Channel 5 on August 7th, 2020
Dr Stefan Szyniszewski was interviewed on Sky News on July 29 2020.
Let’s work together
Proteus Material can make your products stronger, lighter and more resistant to attack by angle grinders, drills and other extreme threats and loads. Contact us here.