Bulletproof vests and ballistic rated materials can be created from different kinds of materials. There have been talks that none of these materials truly posses the ability to halt the movement of a speeding bullet without causing casualties. Luckily, there are still a few materials that would perform well in the face of ballistic threat.
- Steel
Steel bulletproof materials are heavy-duty, yet at just a few millimetres thick, extremely effective in stopping modern firearm rounds. The steel deforms under the stresses from the bullet’s energy but prevents the rounds from reaching their intended targets.
- Ceramic
As a material made from clay heated to extremely high temperatures, ceramic sits just below diamonds on the hardness scale, far above the metal used for bullet making. When layered with Kevlar, ceramic can effectively dissipate the energy from rounds of all sizes. When impacted, the ceramic layers disintegrate into a powder under the bullets’ forces.
- Fibreglass
When at the appropriate thickness, fibreglass can easily deflect bullets by absorbing the energy through its layers. When placed between steel plates, this ultra-lightweight material effectively distorts the rounds and delaminates to capture the bullets within the structure.
- Kevlar
Perhaps one of the better-known bulletproof materials, Kevlar is a synthetic fibre that’s heat resistant and incredibly strong. It’s also lightweight, making it a popular choice for wearable bulletproof items. Kevlar is used in both military and civilian applications.
- Polyethylene
Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene; now say that ten times fast!
This is a plastic that can be found in Tupperware. The ballistic material is remarkably reliable and affordable. Some reports even show that this inexpensive plastic is better than Kevlar at stopping certain bullets because it’s impervious to moisture.
- Polycarbonate
The final bulletproof material on our list is Polycarbonate, a strong, transparent material that is used to make glass ballistic resistant.
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