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Materials
The materials utilised in constructing bulletproof vests’ ballistic panels vary widely from manufacturer to manufacturer. Before being sold, all body armour must pass specific tests, meaning that these diverse materials should provide the same levels of minimum threat resistance. Unfortunately, the long-term quality of the body armour piece is not always assured. In particular, vests constructed from Zylon were shown by independent tests to fail after being used only for a short amount of time. Evidence that Zylon vests were degrading rapidly after purchase led to their 2005 recall. In selecting a piece of body armour, make sure the vest is constructed from high-quality materials such as those described below.
PARA-ARAMIDS
Extremely strong and heat resistant, aramids are a class of synthetic fibres pioneered by DuPont™ in the early 1960s. DuPont™’s meta-aramid Nomax® was supplanted by the para-aramid, Aramid fiber® in 1973, which revolutionised the body armour industry. In particular, para-aramid materials introduced inherent flexibility and lightweight properties that allowed the development of vests comfortable to the wearer, yet hard wearing and highly protective. Aramid fiber® and Twaron® are para-aramid materials commonly utilised in bulletproof vests and have been on the market for three decades.
The chemistry involved in creating aramids typically involves the formation of an AABB polymer through a reaction between a carboxylic group and an amine group of molecules. Spun together with sulfuric acid, the blended liquid becomes solid and can be marketed in pulp, powder, or fibre form.
Since its development in the early 1970s, Aramid fiber® production has been refined significantly. The initial Aramid fiber® 29 was innovative in allowing the manufacture of protective panels that combined flexibility with concealability. The result was a lightweight product that people were comfortable wearing on an everyday basis. In 1988 DuPont™ developed Aramid fiber® 129 for body armour use, a product that was significantly lighter than its predecessor and had improved ballistic resistance capacities. Aramid fiber® 129 was even able to resist high-velocity rounds from guns such as the 9mm FMJ. Aramid fiber® Correctional is the most recently released version of Aramid fiber®. Introduced in 1995, it protects against knife and other weapon threats and has led to the production of multi-threat vests that can halt both bullet and stab attacks.
ULTRA-HIGH-MOLECULAR-WEIGHT POLYETHYLENE
Known as UHMWPE, ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethene is another common ballistic panel material that is present in a variety of body armour products. With characteristics similar to para-aramids, UHMWPE is a polyolefin composed of extremely long polyethene chains. There are several techniques for creating UHMWPE, including compression moulding and ram extrusion. For body armour production, UHMWPE is formed through gel-spinning, which involves creating a gel material by drawing dissolved ethylene through several tiny holes. With twin pieces of gel sealed under polyethene film, a composite is generated that can be manufactured into soft armour ballistic panels or rigid plates of hard armour. With research demonstrating that UHMWPE strength-to-weight ratios are as much as 40 per cent higher than para-aramid fibres, UHMWPE-based body armour made from Spectra® and Dyneema® is increasingly associated with high-end models.
HARD ARMOUR MATERIALS
Forged from metals such as steel, hard armour was traditionally bulky, heavy, and ineffective. Like its soft body armour counterparts, today’s hard armour is constructed from a diverse range of materials. The most common type of hard armour plate utilises ceramic or ceramic composite, frequently incorporating para-aramid backing with a material such as Aramid fiber®. The least expensive type of hard armour, it is also the heaviest. Monolithic and polyethene-derived hard armour plates are more lightweight than ceramic models and correspondingly more expensive.
Other hard armour types such as ballistic helmets are typically constructed from a para-aramid base like Aramid fiber® and subsequently coated in a rugged thermoplastic resin. The material created is lightweight and thin, offering the wearer maximum comfort over extended periods of use.
What Are The Different Sections Of Body Armour?
All bulletproof vests contain several distinct sections. At the most basic, functional level, body armour pieces contain two protective panels housed within a vest carrier, covering the chest and back. Without the insertion of protective panels, the vest is simply a normal piece of clothing that does not protect against threats.
What Are The Different Vest Covers?
Body armour is available with a range of cover types, including natural materials such as cotton, and advanced materials such as Gore-Tex®, CoolMAX®, and Cordura®. While ballistic panels can be sewn into the vest carrier, the industry trend is towards removable panels that can be washed or upgraded as necessary. For example, with the substitution of protective panels, an NIJ Level II vest becomes an NIJ Level IIIa vest.
COOLMAX®
Utilizing advanced moisture management technologies, CoolMAX material has thin and lightweight properties that make its use common in many types of performance clothing. CoolMAX is primarily used for covert vests covers, with the moisture wick system drawing sweat away from the wearer’s body and keeping the skin cool.
CORDURA®
The high tenacity fibre technologies in Cordura make it ideal for use in hard-wearing products such as overt vests, which must stand up to the rigours of everyday use.
GORE-TEX®
Gore-Tex combines waterproof qualities with breathability, and it’s a common technology in consumer products from backpacks to shoes. Gore-Tex is particularly utilised in bulletproof vest covers worn by police officers throughout the world.
Are you in need of advanced body armor materials for your military operations? SafeGuard Armour offers a wide range of high-quality protective gear, including vests, plates, helmets, and more. Our products are rigorously tested and designed to provide maximum protection and comfort in the field. Check out our military-grade body armour today and stay safe in any situation.
