What enables a material to have the ability to be bullet proof? When we think about materials and fabrics, we consider the likelihood of how the may break, rip or get worn and torn over time. However there are many materials which are made to with stand incredible forces and wether conditions, with a whole load of scientific research these type of materials are extremely durable.
Kevlar is a super tough plastic strong enough to stop bullets and knives. Kevlar's amazing properties are partly due to its internal structure (how its molecules are naturally arranged in regular, parallel lines) and partly due to the way it's made into fibers that are knitted tightly together.
It's a proprietary material made only by the DuPont™ chemical company and it comes in two main varieties called Kevlar 29 and Kevlar 49. In its chemical structure, it's very similar to another versatile protective material called Nomex. Kevlar and Nomex are examples of chemicals called synthetic aromatic polyamides or aramids for short.
Kevlar is strong but relatively light. The specific tensile strength (stretching or pulling strength) of both Kevlar 29 and Kevlar 49 is over eight times greater than that of steel wire. Unlike most plastics it does not melt: it's reasonably good at withstanding temperatures and decomposes only at about 450°C (850°F). Equally for that matter, very low temperatures have no effect on Kevlar: DuPont found "no embrittlement or degradation" down to −196°C (−320°F).
Kevlar is a super tough plastic strong enough to stop bullets and knives. Kevlar's amazing properties are partly due to its internal structure (how its molecules are naturally arranged in regular, parallel lines) and partly due to the way it's made into fibers that are knitted tightly together.
It's a proprietary material made only by the DuPont™ chemical company and it comes in two main varieties called Kevlar 29 and Kevlar 49. In its chemical structure, it's very similar to another versatile protective material called Nomex. Kevlar and Nomex are examples of chemicals called synthetic aromatic polyamides or aramids for short.
Kevlar is strong but relatively light. The specific tensile strength (stretching or pulling strength) of both Kevlar 29 and Kevlar 49 is over eight times greater than that of steel wire. Unlike most plastics it does not melt: it's reasonably good at withstanding temperatures and decomposes only at about 450°C (850°F). Equally for that matter, very low temperatures have no effect on Kevlar: DuPont found "no embrittlement or degradation" down to −196°C (−320°F).
Kevlar can be used by itself or as part of a composite material (one material combined with others) to give added strength. It's probably best known for its use in bulletproof vests and knifeproof body armor, but it has dozens of other applications as well. It's used as reinforcement in car tires, in car brakes, in the strings of archery bows, and in car, boat, and even aircraft bodies.
Natural materials such as wool and cotton have to be spun into fibers before they can turned into useful textile products—and the same is true of artificial fibers such as nylon, Kevlar, and Nomex. The basic aramid is turned into fibers by a process called wet spinning, which involves forcing a hot, concentrated, and very viscous solution of poly-para-phenylene terephthalamide through a spinneret (a metal former a bit like a sieve) to make long, thin, strong, and stiff fibers that are wound onto drums. The fibers are then cut to length and woven into a tough mat to make the super-strong, super-stiff finished material we know as Kevlar.
H. H Yang produced a book in 1993 called "Kevlar Aramid Fibre", which delves into a very technical insight of data and uses of Kevlar fibre and pulp products. According to the author, "The first plant was built in Richmond Virginia, in 1971. Since then, rapid growth in the use of Kevlar aramid fibre had demanded a rapid increase in its production. Du Pont Company first increased the production capacity of Kevlar aramid in 1978, and again in 1982. Investments for the plant expansion have amounted to hundreds of millions of dollars. To facilitate distribution, Kevlar is now produced in the United States England, and Japan. Thus Kevlar aramid fibre has truly become a global enterprise."