This slow-motion video demonstrates what happens when a piece of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) made with aerogels is hit by a high-momentum projectile (the momentum is eight times higher than that of a .45-caliber bullet). This video is Nicholas Leventis, professor of chemistry at the University of Missouri-Rolla (Missouri University of Science and Technology) and is used to compare the strength of aerogels to conventional armor-grade PMMA. (see related video, "Shattered!"). Video courtesy of Hongbing Lu, professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, at Oklahoma State University.
