Bullet-proof Vest Materials

A bulletproof vest consists of a panel, a vest-shaped sheet of advanced plastics polymers that is composed of many layers. Manufacturers developed different materials used in a bullet proof vest.

Some of these popular ballistic resistant fabrics include: Dyneema from DSM, Spectra from AlliedSignal, Kevlar from DuPont, Twaron, and Zylon from TOYOBO. Kevlar is a manmade organic fiber, with a combination of properties allowing for high strength with low weight, high chemical resistance, and high cut resistance.

Kevlar is also flame resistant; does not melt, soften, or flow; and the fiber is unaffected by immersion in water. Kevlar has been the standard material since.

Spectra fiber is an ultra-high-strength polyethylene fiber. This material is nonwoven fabric which is manufactured by AlliedSignal. This fabric is incredibly strong, lightweight, and has excellent ballistic protection capabilities.

Twaron fiber uses 1,000 or more finely spun single filaments that act as an energy sponge, absorbing a bullet's impact and quickly dissipating its energy through engaged and adjacent fibers. It’s use in a bullet proof vest significantly reduces the overall weight of the finished product, thus making a bullet proof vest more comfortable. Another fiber used to manufacture a bullet proof vest is DYNEEMA. It is a polyethylene fiber which is light enough that it can float on water, and has high energy absorption characteristics.