A new ballistic simulant "transparent gel candle" (experimental study).
BACKGROUND
Inanimate tissue stimulants have been used to show the bullet effects in ballistic studies. Gelatin has been being used as a ballistic stimulant for the last 20 years. It was considered that transparent gel candle (kraton in white paraffin oil) might be used as a soft tissue stimulant that can be an alternative for gelatin.


METHODS
For calibration of transplant gel candle, firstly it was shot at the 10% ordinance gelatin at 4 o C, and several concentrations of the transparent gel candle at 4 o C, by later on, by using a competition air gun. It was seen that 15% kraton in 85% white paraffin oil is the most suitable concentration. This kind of transparent gel candle blocks tested by using 9 mm parabellum and 7.62 mm x 51 (NATO 7.62) infantry rifle bullets and high-speed camera.


RESULTS
Because of its transparency and elasticity, the penetration, permanent and temporary cavities of bullets were observed clearly in transparent gel candle.


CONCLUSIONS
As a result, transparent gel candle is a good soft tissue stimulant that it can be used in wound ballistic studies.
Uzar
Ali Ihsan
AI
General Surgery Department, Gülhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara-Turkey. mdakak@gata.edu.tr
Dakak
Mehmet
M
Ozer
Tahir
T
Oğünç
Gökhan
G
Yiğit
Taner
T
Kayahan
Cengiz
C
Oner
Köksal
K
Sen
Derviş
D
D005554:Forensic Medicine; D005780:Gelatin; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D014948:Wounds, Gunshot / Q000473:pathology*
D005780:Gelatin