US to develop self-healing nanotech tanks.

LordShaithis · Post by **LordShaithis** » 2002-11-07 01:33pm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/2386731.stm

Post by **Mr Bean** » 2002-11-07 01:34pm

Misleading title, Its self painting paint with built in camo, NOT realy self Healing

Post by **Kuja** » 2002-11-07 01:35pm

Muwhwaahahahahahaaa!

Fear us and our chameleon tanks!

Spanky The Dolphin · Post by **Spanky The Dolphin** » 2002-11-07 01:59pm

From the title it sounds like microscopic tanks.

Good, we need something new in the war against the bacteria.

neoolong · Post by **neoolong** » 2002-11-07 02:29pm

Wow. I did not know that tank paint cost so much.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2002-11-07 03:17pm

neoolong wrote:Wow. I did not know that tank paint cost so much.

Its because the US Army has repainted basically everything that moves with new paint which won't absorb chemical weapons. The paint type that was used before and is still used by many countries will absorb stuff like nerve and mustard gas, and that means decontamination requires basically stripping the paint off the vehicle. Such decontamination methods take much longer and require the use of whats basically pure bleach and a couple other nasty things.

However in addition to being expensive the paint is also very toxic while being spray on so it has to be done inside of sealed buildings or tents. This must be done over every once and a while, and whenever the vehicle is redeployed to an area requiring a different camo patterns.

neoolong · Post by **neoolong** » 2002-11-07 06:00pm

Sea Skimmer wrote:
neoolong wrote:Wow. I did not know that tank paint cost so much.
Its because the US Army has repainted basically everything that moves with new paint which won't absorb chemical weapons. The paint type that was used before and is still used by many countries will absorb stuff like nerve and mustard gas, and that means decontamination requires basically stripping the paint off the vehicle. Such decontamination methods take much longer and require the use of whats basically pure bleach and a couple other nasty things.

However in addition to being expensive the paint is also very toxic while being spray on so it has to be done inside of sealed buildings or tents. This must be done over every once and a while, and whenever the vehicle is redeployed to an area requiring a different camo patterns.

Interesting. Though I wonder why the paint is really toxic? An effect of its special properties or something?

Crayz9000 · Post by **Crayz9000** » 2002-11-07 06:08pm

neoolong wrote:Interesting. Though I wonder why the paint is really toxic? An effect of its special properties or something?

Well, if you figure that they need to design a paint that won't react with pure chlorine (one of the most reactive elements that exists, next to fluorine) it's going to have some interesting qualities.

Post by **Sea Skimmer** » 2002-11-07 06:10pm

neoolong wrote:
Sea Skimmer wrote:
neoolong wrote:Wow. I did not know that tank paint cost so much.
Its because the US Army has repainted basically everything that moves with new paint which won't absorb chemical weapons. The paint type that was used before and is still used by many countries will absorb stuff like nerve and mustard gas, and that means decontamination requires basically stripping the paint off the vehicle. Such decontamination methods take much longer and require the use of whats basically pure bleach and a couple other nasty things.

However in addition to being expensive the paint is also very toxic while being spray on so it has to be done inside of sealed buildings or tents. This must be done over every once and a while, and whenever the vehicle is redeployed to an area requiring a different camo patterns.
Interesting. Though I wonder why the paint is really toxic? An effect of its special properties or something?

I don’t think the composition is public information, but I'd say its safe to say its because of what ever they added to prevent the absorption of gasses.