Chemists say they've come up with a new formula for camouflage face paint that could protect military service members' skin from heat created by explosions.
University of Southern Mississippi chemist Robert Lochhead presented his findings today before a American Chemical Society meeting in Philadelphia, according to the the Los Angeles Times.
Lochhead said he and his team of chemists have developed a face paint that can protect skin from the heat of thermal blasts, which can reach temperatures of more than 1,000 degrees Fahrenheit:
Laboratory experiments showed that the new makeup could protect skin for as long as 15 seconds before its temperature rose high enough to produce mild first-degree burns. In some tests, the paint provided protection as long as 60 seconds, Lochhead said, which could give soldiers time to escape from a blast zone.
Lochhead's team is also working on a colorless version of their face paint for firefighters to wear.
