NC State: Metal Foam Obliterates Bullets

Composite metal foams are tough stuff. Tough enough to turn an armor-piercing bullet into dust on impact. Given that these foams are also lighter than metal plate, the material has obvious implications for creating new types of body and vehicle armor — and that’s just the beginning of its potential uses. Afsaneh Rabiei, a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at NC State, has spent years developing composite metal foams and investigating their unusual properties. Learn more about her work at