Stab resistant materials have been used for many years to provide people with maximum protection during dangerous situations. Purchasers often use products that are stab resistant without knowing anything about the materials themselves. Understanding the science behind them will help you to feel more confident using the available products that they can be found in.
Kevlar Fiber
Kevlar is an extremely strong plastic material that is scientifically formulated to provide maximum protection from sharp objects, as well as some firearms. The material is created through a process called polymerization. Polymerization occurs when molecules are bonded. The molecules are knitted together in a weaving fashion to make Kevlar. This creates the strength that is needed in order for the objects to provide the protection they are designed for.
The plastic material is strong because there are numerous layers stacked on top of one another to create the Kevlar material. Even though Kevlar is very strong and protective, it is also very lightweight which makes it ideal for stab resistant vests. This allows individuals to wear the Kevlar during many different types of situations without feeling weighed down or having their range of motion limited.
Metal Panels
Metal panels are also used as a very effective stab resistant material. The panels fit easily into a carrier to ensure that the wearer has maximum protection at all times. They are often made of steel or titanium. When someone attempts to stab a wearer, the metal will deflect the weapon to ensure that the wearer is as safe as they can be at all times. The metal panels can be a bit heavy depending on their thickness. They can be removed from a carrier with ease, when someone is not in the direct threat of hand-to-hand combat that could lead to an assault with a knife. The metal panels are easy to find but can be a bit pricy because of the quantity of metal that is needed to create them.
Ceramic Panels
Ceramic panels are made of a non-metallic boron carbide material.
The material is designed to be one of the most protective materials available. This material is designed to deflect a stab attack to ensure that the wearer is protected. As a lightweight material, it doesn’t feel overly bulky.
When choosing between the stab resistant materials that are available, you need to consider the situations that you will be entering. There are some occupations that require someone to be able to move quickly from one place to another. When this happens, a heavy panel can restrict their ability to move easily in dangerous situations.
When wearing the vests, it is important to make sure that the vest fits properly. The armor needs to be situated in the proper place in order for the wearer to be able to get the protection that the armor is designed to provide. The vest needs to fit tightly to the body so that the panels stay in place at all times. If there are gaps between the body and the vest, there is a good chance that the assailant will be able to find a way to injure the wearer.
Editor’s note
I’d like to dedicate this post to Stephanie Kwolek, the inventor of Kevlar. July 31, 1923 – June 18, 2014
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