Bulletproof Iron Man suits could soon be a reality for soldiers as super-strong 3D-printed armour is created

Loughborough University has created a super-strong 3D printed body armour 

Several layers are added quickly which makes it impervious to bullets and blades 

It is also claimed the material can reduce injuries from blunt-forced trauma 

Fully functioning flying suit has also been built by TV star Adam Savage 

Deflected .45 calibre bullets with little damage and was controlled by its wearer 

A real-life bulletproof Iron Man suit could soon be worn by police and the military with all the bulletproof and flying accessories as the Marvel superhero. 

A super-strong 3D printed body armour has been created by researchers at Loughborough University which can be moulded to fit any body shape perfectly. 

A fully functioning flying suit, made of titanium and impervious to .45 calibre bullets, has also been made by ex-Mythbuster Adam Savage in his latest show, 'Savage builds', on the Discovery Channel.

A super-strong 3D printed body armour has been created by researchers at Loughborough University which can be moulded to fit any body shape perfectly. The team developed the 3D-printed body armour in conjunction with the Home Office and Ministry of Defence (MOD)

HOW DOES 3D-PRINTED BODY ARMOUR WORK? 

A futuristic armour has been created using a 3D printer.

It rapidly deposits thin layers of heat-resistant fibres together to create a protective panel that can slot into military and police vests.

The several layers rapidly decelerate the projectile and dissipate it throughout the vest, preventing penetration into the wearer. 

Blunt force trauma often results due to the immense energy of the bullet as it is travelling at such high speeds. 

A Loughborough University team has invented a way to prevent this and say it would allow for protection of a person while also allowing them to move easily and store their weapons with ease. Both versions combine different aspects of the fictional character's suit, but they could usher in a new era in armour and weaponry for soldiers and law enforcement. The future vision for the £100,000 project is to take someone's scan data and map the protective geometry around them, he said. Dr Tom Payne, a senior scientist from the MoD's Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, who was involved with the project, said the gear could also solve the issue of 'heavy or inflexible' clothing currently used by law enforcement professionals, the publication said.

His team have successfully tested the kit in the lab and researchers are hoping to receive more funding to trial it in the field. 

A real-life bulletproof Iron Man suit could soon be worn by police and the military with all the bulletproof and flying accessories as the Marvel superhero (model suits, pictured here at Avengers experience in Las Vegas)

When tested against a specially-engineered knife, the material showed 'significant improvement' in protection compared to current alternatives.

A 9mm bullet was also fired at the suit from 16ft (4.8 metres) away at a velocity of 400 yards per second. 

Refinements to the suit following the safety tests could mean officers wearing the vests would be less likely to incur blunt trauma from a bullet or blade. 

The innovation comes as TV star Adam Savage has recently partnered with engineers to create a titanium suit that is modelled after the Marvel character's suit worn in the 2008 superhero film, for series 'Savage Builds'. 

It is all silver and slightly bulkier than the suit in the film but was flown and survived gunfire with minimal damage. 

'There's nothing fictional about the operation of this. It is a first prototype, and it is raw as hell, but it worked,' the TV star said in the episode.