29:
106:, capable of cutting eighteen-inch thick steel plate, has little impact on Starlite. It was reported that it took nine seconds to heat a warhead to 900 °C, but a thin layer of the compound prevented the temperature from rising above 40 °C. Starlite was also claimed to have been able to withstand a laser beam that could produce a temperature of 10,000 °C.
307:. After drying, the hardened material creates a thin layer of carbon foam on the surface when exposed to high heat, insulating the material from further heat transfer. He later improved it by taking out the PVA glue and baking soda, and adding in flour, sugar and borax. Using borax and flour makes it less expensive,
60:
The
American company Thermashield, LLC, says it acquired the rights to Starlite in 2013 and replicated it. It is the only company to have itself publicly demonstrated the technology and have samples tested by third parties. Thermashield's Starlite has successfully passed
226:. Ward maintained that his invention was worth billions. Sir Ronald Mason told a reporter in 1993, "I started this path with Maurice very sceptical. I’m totally convinced of the reality of the claims." He further states, "We don't still quite understand
125:
under different conditions. Starlite may become contaminated with dust residue and so degrade with use. Keith Lewis, a retired MOD officer, noted that the material guards only against thermal damage and not the physical damage caused by an
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user, NightHawkInLight, attempted in 2018 to create materials that replicated the properties of
Starlite. Observing that the mechanism that generates an expanding carbon foam in Starlite is similar to
801:
117:
International
Defence Review 4/1993, speculated this was due to particle scatter of an ablative layer, thereby increasing the reflective properties of the compound. Testing continues for
628:
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release in the BBC Reel category, Thermashield, LLC had purchased all of Ward's notes, equipment and other related materials and is working towards a viable commercial product.
160:
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By the time of Ward's death in 2011 there appeared to have been no commercialisation of
Starlite, and the formulation of the material had not been released to the public.
194:
The
American company Thermashield, LLC, which owns the Starlite formula, stated in a radio interview that Starlite is not made from household ingredients and there is no
143:, and one of the materials he would most like to see for himself. He also admitted some doubt about the commercial potential of Starlite. Its main use appears to be as a
250:
heat shield. Naranjo said of their discussions with Ward, "We have done a lot of evaluation and … we know all the tremendous possibilities that this material has."
993:
372:
917:
256:, which was the main contractor for the Space Shuttles in 1994, became interested in the potential of Starlite to eliminate flammable materials in their jets.
159:
Starlite's composition is a closely guarded secret. "The actual composition of
Starlite is known only to Maurice and one or two members of his family," former
51:(1933–2011) during the 1970s and 1980s, and received significant publicity after coverage of the material aired in 1990 on the BBC science and technology show
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Pauley, Jane (news co-anchor) Phillips, Stone (news co-anchor) Scott, John (reporter) Tobias, Janet (producer) Allen, Robert O. (editor) (20 March 2009).
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855:
87:
showed that an egg coated in
Starlite could remain raw, and cold enough to be picked up with a bare hand, even after five minutes in the flame of an
179:
and other special barrier ingredients—up to 21 in all. Perhaps uniquely for a material said to be thermal proof, it is said to be not entirely
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became involved in
Starlite in 1994, and NASA engineer Rosendo 'Rudy' Naranjo talked about its potential in a
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enhanced with
Starlite could expand the range of potential uses and applications of this substance.
1280:
918:"...Ultrafast Data Transmissions That Can Find You: New Materials; Superconductor Spinoff Products"
796:
223:
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133:
94:. It would also prevent a blowtorch from damaging a human hand. When heat is applied, the material
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Several experiments testing the replication and variant recipes show that they can handle lasers,
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994:"This YouTuber Creates the Almost Indestructible Supermaterial, Starlite in his Kitchen"
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187:. Nicola McDermott, Ward's youngest daughter, stated that Starlite is 'natural' and
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to conduct tests on samples, but did not permit them to retain samples for fear of
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Johnson, Lee (reporter) Proctor, Adam (producer, director) (13 September 2018).
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Johnson, Lee (reporter) Proctor, Adam (producer, director) (13 September 2018).
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Johnson, Lee (reporter) Proctor, Adam (producer, director) (13 September 2018).
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Johnson, Lee (reporter) Proctor, Adam (producer, director) (13 September 2018).
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from extreme heat. It was invented by
British hairdresser and amateur chemist
28:
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322:, torches, etc. But the replication recipe failed when it was used to make a
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1276:"Starlite, the nuclear blast defying plastic that could change the world"
1182:
Can you make a crucible out of Starlite ? | Is Starlite bulletproof?
1092:
K40 Laser vs. Starlite Super Insulator / Testing what Recipe really works
831:
792:"Starlite, the nuclear blast defying plastic that could change the world"
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Johnson, Lee (reporter) Proctor, Adam (producer, director) (4 May 2021).
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History of a Lost Supermaterial & How To Make It (Starlite Part 2)
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191:, and that it has been fed to dogs and horses without ill effects.
98:, which creates an expanding low density carbon foam which is very
1026:
A Super-Material That Can Be Made In The Kitchen (Starlite Part 1)
246:
reporter stated that Starlite could perhaps help with the fragile
57:. The name Starlite was coined by Ward's granddaughter Kimberly.
16:
Partially organic thermal insulator of mostly unknown composition
308:
233:
963:
109:
Starlite reacts more efficiently as more heat is applied. The
163:
Sir Ronald Mason averred. It is said to contain a variety of
365:"Starlite: The miracle material that could be lost forever"
432:
The wonder material that 'protects against nuclear blasts'
864:(Radio broadcast). Valley Public Radio. 23:08 minutes in
19:
This article is about the invention. For other uses, see
1324:"Skeptoid #684: Starlight, the Magical Mystery Material"
826:
What's inside this potentially world-changing material?
687:
What's inside this potentially world-changing material?
559:
How does the 'wonder material' Starlite actually work?
230:
it works, but that it works is undoubtedly the case."
171:
with both organic and inorganic additives, including
263:According to a 2016 broadcast of the BBC programme
161:
Chief Scientific Adviser to the Ministry of Defence
32:
White sands test sample, owned by Thermashield, LLC
1252:Maurice Ward: 2009 Radio Interview About Starlite
655:"The power of cool: Whatever became of Starlite?"
619:"The power of cool: Whatever became of Starlite?"
1023:NightHawkInLight (channel) (19 December 2018).
520:mauricewardstarlite (channel) (29 March 2009).
214:Ward allowed various organisations such as the
1240:, Interesting Thing of the Day, archived from
269:, Ward took his secrets with him when he died.
1179:Mancave Effects (channel) (12 January 2020).
1089:Mancave Effects (channel) (21 January 2019).
295:, NightHawkInLight concocted a formula using
8:
1123:"Starlite vs. Thermite (Bonus: Foundry use)"
1056:NightHawkInLight (channel) (1 August 2020).
884:"Rosendo 'Rudy' Naranjo, aerospace engineer"
589:"Plastic That Can Withstand A Nuclear Blast"
854:Daniel, Alice (radio host) (21 May 2019).
130:, which can destroy the insulating layer.
43:material said to be able to withstand and
800:. London: Telegraph Media Group Limited.
27:
992:Alexander, Donovan (25 December 2018).
970:from the original on 3 September 2017.
355:
1161:
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721:The wonder material that never made it
315:resistant, and able to work when dry.
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1103:from the original on 15 December 2021
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405:from the original on 4 September 2021
7:
1004:from the original on 21 January 2019
972:(The mystery of Starlite transcript)
916:Feder, Barnaby J. (3 January 1994).
631:from the original on 3 December 2018
612:
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420:
497:. Thermashield, LLC. 13 July 2017.
467:. Thermashield, LLC. October 2018.
401:. Thermashield, LLC. October 2018.
69:and ASTM D635-15 Standard Testing.
1246:. (Wayback Machine; March 9, 2020)
14:
1255:, Steven Rinehart, archived from
1000:. Interesting Engineering, Inc.
930:from the original on 26 May 2015
835:(Online video). 2:45 minutes in
804:from the original on 17 May 2021
696:(Online video). 5:15 minutes in
375:from the original on 19 May 2012
139:described Starlite as a type of
653:Fisher, Richard (22 May 2012).
587:Guterl, Fred (16 August 1993).
67:Georgia Institute of Technology
1274:George, Rose (15 April 2009),
949:Smith, Chris (2 August 2016).
790:George, Rose (15 April 2009).
617:Fisher, Richard (9 May 2012).
595:. New York City: Bloomberg L.P
1:
857:Mysterious Starlite (segment)
363:Keene, Jamie (17 May 2012).
216:Atomic Weapons Establishment
102:. Even the application of a
962:. University of Cambridge.
759:Only Your Hairdresser Knows
523:Maurice on Tomorrow's World
1383:
1135:video). 30 December 2018.
18:
1213:Thermashield, LLC Website
951:"The mystery of Starlite"
21:Starlite (disambiguation)
175:and small quantities of
113:report, as published in
998:Interesting Engineering
766:(Television production)
77:Live demonstrations on
593:Bloomberg Businessweek
461:"Aerospace Validation"
183:but up to 90 per cent
33:
495:Starlite Thermashield
465:Starlite Thermashield
399:Starlite Thermashield
293:black snake fireworks
65:laser testing at the
31:
1357:Brand name materials
959:The Naked Scientists
491:"Femtosecond Lasers"
272:According to a 2020
266:The Naked Scientists
147:. Testing of modern
119:thermal conductivity
1216:, Thermashield, LLC
224:reverse engineering
149:composite materials
134:Materials scientist
100:thermally resistant
1160:Unknown parameter
923:The New York Times
34:
926:. New York City.
328:induction furnace
210:Commercialisation
141:intumescent paint
1374:
1347:Organic polymers
1333:
1322:(16 July 2019).
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80:Tomorrow's World
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1352:Biomaterials
1327:
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1291:Maurice Ward
1279:
1264:, retrieved
1257:the original
1251:
1242:the original
1236:
1212:
1191:. Retrieved
1181:
1174:
1141:. Retrieved
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808:26 September
806:. Retrieved
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768:. Retrieved
764:Dateline NBC
763:
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732:. Retrieved
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669:26 September
667:. Retrieved
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633:. Retrieved
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597:. Retrieved
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570:. Retrieved
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536:. Retrieved
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503:. Retrieved
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473:. Retrieved
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445:25 September
443:. Retrieved
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407:. Retrieved
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377:. Retrieved
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243:
242:report. The
239:Dateline NBC
237:
232:
227:
213:
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158:
132:
108:
104:plasma torch
89:oxyacetylene
78:
76:
59:
52:
49:Maurice Ward
36:
35:
25:
839:21 December
734:21 December
700:21 December
572:21 December
538:21 December
301:baking soda
283:Replication
200:baking soda
169:co-polymers
155:Composition
85:BBC Radio 4
63:femtosecond
41:intumescent
1341:Categories
1305:"Starlite"
1293:'s channel
1225:'s channel
934:3 December
635:3 December
395:"Heritage"
379:14 October
351:References
297:cornstarch
275:BBC Online
73:Properties
1367:Firestops
1164:ignored (
896:0190-8286
369:The Verge
345:Firepaste
181:inorganic
128:explosion
92:blowtorch
1329:Skeptoid
1284:, London
1260:(MPEG 3)
1237:Starlite
1153:cite web
1137:Archived
1101:Archived
1099:video).
1068:Archived
1066:video).
1035:Archived
1033:video).
1002:Archived
968:Archived
928:Archived
832:BBC Reel
802:Archived
727:BBC Reel
693:BBC Reel
663:Archived
629:Archived
565:BBC Reel
532:Archived
530:video).
505:18 March
499:Archived
475:18 March
469:Archived
438:BBC Reel
409:18 March
403:Archived
373:Archived
334:See also
324:crucible
320:thermite
305:PVA glue
244:Dateline
196:PVA glue
177:ceramics
123:capacity
45:insulate
37:Starlite
1312:Blogger
1297:YouTube
1266:4 April
1229:YouTube
1187:YouTube
1133:YouTube
1128:YouTube
1097:YouTube
1064:YouTube
1031:YouTube
954:(MPEG3)
868:12 June
528:YouTube
326:for an
289:YouTube
206:in it.
185:organic
173:borates
1308:(Blog)
1193:3 July
1189:video)
1143:3 July
1107:3 July
1008:3 July
901:3 July
894:
659:Tumblr
313:insect
303:, and
254:Boeing
189:edible
115:Jane's
39:is an
111:MOD's
96:chars
1268:2009
1195:2020
1166:help
1145:2020
1109:2020
1076:2021
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979:2021
936:2019
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736:2018
702:2018
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637:2018
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574:2018
540:2018
507:2019
477:2019
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381:2018
311:and
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