What is dilatant?

Dilatant is a type of material that exhibits an increase in viscosity or resistance to flow when subjected to shear stress or pressure. This phenomenon is also called shear thickening. Dilatant materials are commonly found in nature, such as quicksand or some types of quick-drying cement mixes. They can also be created synthetically by mixing submicron-sized particles, such as silica, with a liquid, such as water or glycerol. When sheared, the particles disperse and create more ordered structures, increasing the viscosity of the mixture. This property makes dilatant materials useful for applications such as body armor, sports gear, and industrial coatings.