Which Bulletproof Vest Materials Can Bring New Avenues to Your Business?

Which Bulletproof Vest Materials Can Bring New Avenues to Your Business?

Highlights:

• Popular materials used to make bulletproof vests
• Latest technologies in preparing these innovative jackets
• Some innovative moves by leading players in the domain

For ages, people safeguarded themselves from injuries using materials and technologies of their time. In ancient times, people used animal skins to protect themselves from weapons. As weaponry evolves, people enhance their defense arsenals with various additions like wooden and metal shields to create stronger protection. Bulletproof vests are life-saving equipment that is widely used among law enforcement officials or security personnel who are leading high-risk lives every day. These innovative suits can protect the lives of these people from threats while performing their duties. This article talks about the latest technologies and materials employed to enhance the effectiveness of these life-saving suits.

Various materials that are widely used to prepare bulletproof vests:

A bulletproof vest is made with multiple layers, each designed to enhance the suit's ballistic resistance. The main objective behind designing these suits is to reduce the kinetic energy of a bullet and spread it out so that it will stop the bullet from penetrating the body. In these life-saving suits, the outer layer usually acts as a covering to protect the inside layers from outer elements such as heat, water, and UV rays. The outer layer is often made from abrasion-resistant fabrics such as nylon or polyester. Just below the outer layer, there exists a trauma reduction layer that helps spread the force of impact over a broader region. This layer helps in decreasing the risk of blunt injuries. Foam and other energy-absorbing materials are widely used to form these inner layers.

Most importantly, these suits are mainly made of ballistic materials to stop the projectiles of bullets. One of the widely used ballistic materials in making bulletproof vests is Kevlar. This is a synthetic fiber that possesses a significant strength-to-weight ratio and excellent tensile strength. Kevlar has gained huge popularity as an ideal material for body armor because of its beneficial properties such as greater flexibility, abrasion resistance, and lightweight nature. The structure of this fiber enables it to absorb and spread the impact of a bullet efficiently.

Spectra shield is another popular material that is frequently utilized in bulletproof vests. This material is formed by using ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene fiber.  This material helps in preparing lighter bulletproof vests than using Kevlar. Spectra shield also offers greater resistance to chemicals, water, and UV rays, forming robust life-saving suits appropriate for different situations.

On the other hand, Dyneema, a high-performance polyethylene fiber is also used for making these extraordinary suits because of its matchless toughness and endurance. This material seems lighter than steel but can stop the projectiles of bullets more successfully than suits made from steel.

Stronger than Kevlar: The latest in bulletproof tech

With technological advancements, nowadays, makers are employing new technologies to increase the capacity to stop bullets more effectively. Manufacturers have started incorporating soft armor panels to design these life-saving jackets. These panels are made of aramid fibers or UHMWPE which can extend the coverage of the impact of bullets to broader regions of the human body including shoulders, sides, and collar. Furthermore, modern bulletproof vests are designed to sustain multiple hits without losing their defensive qualities. Such jackets are constructed using specialized ballistic materials, enabling them to stop numerous shots effectively.

Recently, researchers at the University of Houston are exploring the use of materials made from mushrooms to make protective jackets that can hold against poisonous gases, lasers, as well as bullets. This material is called “chitin” which is a biodegradable material and can be used as an alternative to plastics in preparing these suits, promoting sustainable practices.

Furthermore, in Poland, the Moratex Institute of Security Technologies has created a non-Newtonian fluid that offers more comfort than wearing jackets made from Kevlar. This fluid is designed in such a manner that when a high-speed projectile enters the jacket it changes its form to solid by thickening its molecule. Such innovative phenomena can bring more efficient life-saving jackets in the coming epoch.

Adopting graphene technology: Some synergistic partnerships

The bulletproof vests industry is witnessing progressive growth and is predicted to rise at a CAGR of 6.4% from 2023 to 2032. To safeguard the competitive landscape of the industry, many leading players in the domain have made profitable alliances. For instance, Directa Plus, one of the largest producers and suppliers worldwide of graphene nanoplatelets-based products announced its collaboration with CIA Miguel Caballero, a leading supplier of graphene-based textile solutions. With this collaboration, the companies aimed to enhance the performance and comfort of bulletproof vests by introducing a cutting-edge thermal interlayer based on graphene technology.

To sum up, the increasing focus of manufacturers on developing lightweight bulletproof vests with flexible fabrics will drive the domain with immense opportunities in the future. Moreover, the surge in insurgency activities and geopolitical conflicts can propel the demand for these life-saving suits in the coming era.

To get more insights into the bulletproof vests industry and develop new strategies to expand your business, feel free to talk to our industry experts today! 

Related Post