Blanket provides protection against dirty bombs
(Credit:
RST)
The first instinct when confronted with a radiological explosive device may be to turn tail and run, but the new Demron-W Nuclear/Ballistic Shield affords the opportunity to stick around and save the day.
The Demron suppression blanket provides total protection against ballistics, improvised explosive devices, dirty bombs, spills, and all types of radiological and nuclear incidents, according to Miami-based manufacturer Radiation Shield Technologies (RST).
It acts as a portable shield, tailored to reduce emissions from contained high-energy sources such as Cesium-137, and neutron sources and Americium-Beryllium. It's perfect for covering undetonated radiological dispersal devices, RST says.
The material, described as "liquid metal," was invented by Miami doctor Ronald F. DeMeo, after he "noticed that he was getting kind of burned" while giving X-rays to patients (PDF).
The flame- and acid-resistant shield is made with a patented fabric that consists of a radiopaque nano-polymeric compound fused between layers of fabric and then manufactured into the nuclear-radiation blocking blanket. The outer covering is 1000 Denier Cordura and comes in black or red.
Mark Rutherford is a West Coast-based freelance writer. He is a member of the CNET Blog Network, and is not an employee of CNET. Email him at markr@milapp.com. Disclosure. 
