Australia's Defence Science & Technology Organisation (DSTO) has identified a range of aerospace uses for negative Poisson ratio (NPR) materials and recommends further research. NPR materials become wider when stretched and narrower when compressed - the opposite of conventional materials.
Aerospace uses identified by DSTO include smart textiles, bulletproof helmets and vests, fasteners and rivets, and energy absorption systems for air-dropped cargo. Also known as auxetic materials, NPR properties include good sound and vibration absorption, which would be useful for aircraft structures.
Source: Flight International