- Sticky foam
Sticky foam is an
incapacitant , used whenless lethal force is required, consisting of various extremely tacky and/or tenacious materials carried in compressed form with a propellant and used to block, entangle, and impair individuals. ANational Institute of Justice -funded project atSandia National Laboratory developed a "gun" which could fire multiple shots of sticky foam. After testing the product for corrections applications, Sandia provided theU.S. Marine Corps Operation United Shield with sticky foam guns and supporting equipment to assist in the withdrawal of UN Peacekeepers fromSomalia . Problems with this technology include: the serious risk of smothering the subject; skin clean-up (the foam may not be toxic, but solvents are often harsh); "gun" clogging; targeting and firing; and gun cleaning. The Marine Corps reportedly successfully used the sticky foam guns as part of the operation in Somalia.[http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1997SPIE.2934...96S Scott, Steven H.; "Sticky foam as a less-than-lethal technology," p. 96-103 of "Proc. SPIE" v. 2934, "Security Systems and Nonlethal Technologies for Law Enforcement", John B. Alexander, Debra D. Spencer, Steve Schmit & Basil J. Steele, Eds.]
External links
* [http://www.defensetech.org/archives/002220.html Sticky Foam Gets Serious]
* [http://www.aquafoam.com/MilitaryDefenseLaw.html Bibliography (updated 6 Jun 2006) of Aqueous Foam Technology Uses in Military, Defense and Law Enforcement]
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