Ever since World War I, sandbags typically protected troops’ tents from bombs and shrapnel exploding in dangerous terrain, but a collaboration between a Montrose company and the University of Maine is about to change that.
Montrose-based Polystrand Inc. developed and makes the ThermoBallistic composite material that is incorporated into panels designed to protect military tents. After being installed, the panels can absorb a bomb’s terrific initial force, a blast that is at least 10 times greater than a hurricane’s highest wind — and absorb the subsequent shrapnel.
The panels, made at the University of Maine and later installed inside military tents, effectively turn tents into portable armored shelters.
“Sandbags stop bullets, but not the blast that can knock down a tent and cause injuries . . . in these forward-fighting camps,” explained Ed Pilpel, president of Polystrand.
“These are temporary camps, in place for weeks at a time, and you can spend a significant amount of time just filling sandbags. Part of the criteria was that soldiers could set up these tents in 60 minutes.”
Other criteria: The panels had to absorb the enormous energy caused by the explosive blast, while being virtually undetectable, with light-reflecting surfaces, and free of volatile compounds that produce gas in high temperatures. That last requirement came after previous experimental reinforcements released gas so potent it drove soldiers out of their tents.
So far, about a half-dozen prototype ThermoBallistic-reinforced tents are being used by U.S. troops. Pilpel just received $1.6 million in Pentagon funding to produce more panels.
“That’s the next step,” Pilpel said, “to get more tents into the field in larger numbers.”
