NCJ Number
225548
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 35 Issue: 10 Dated: October 2008 Pages: 68,70,72,74,77
Date Published
October 2008
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This article discusses the expansion of Kevlar technology used in ballistic applications providing safety to law enforcement officers while on the job.
Abstract
The name Kevlar, used in ballistic applications for more than 35 years, has become synonymous with keeping law enforcement officers safe on the job. Body armor made with Kevlar works by catching a bullet in a multilayer web of woven fabrics. The engaged fibers absorb the energy of the impact and disperse it to other fibers in the fabric weave. This soft body armor, along with its ability to combine high strength with light weight has made it popular with law enforcement. DuPont’s latest generation of woven technology, Kevlar XP offers more bullet stopping power. Kevlar XP is seen as providing exceptional performance with its ability to consistently stop bullets in just the first 3 out of 11 layers against the .44 Magnum bullet of the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Level IIIA. The remaining eight layers of Kevlar XP absorb bullet energy, so the vest wearer experiences less trauma, or backface deformation. In keeping with more rigorous NIJ testing, the Kevlar XP is designed to maintain its performance. As the technology advances, it is believed that body armor will become even lighter, more flexible, and more comfortable.