How Lightweight Body Armor Started
The use of lightweight body armor can be traced since ancient civilizations. Lightweight body armor is the most popular type of body armor used today because of the optimum balance between protection, comfort and mobility that it can give to the user. However, lightweight body armor only started during the 1960’s, when Kevlar was discovered by DuPont Company.
During the early times, the body armors used by early civilizations were not as sophisticated and advanced as the body armor we use today. The earliest body armors were in the form wood or barks of trees, leather and hammered metal plates. These were the type of body armors used by soldiers in combats which were very effective during that time. Through the middle Ages, body armor became thinner and more polished because these body armors were not only used for combats but also for special ceremonies.
But due to the advent of gunpowder, these body armors became useless, obsolete and ineffective. Many have tried experimenting on different body armors that can be used to defy firearms. Ned Kelly produced suit of broiler plate iron armor which was very efficient yet used the armor for his own personal interest. France created different armors for the chest, thigh and legs yet never made them available to their soldiers. Soft armors were later started by the English by using tissue, cotton and silk. Bulletproof vests were created during the 1930’s which were effective but heavy and restrict mobility.
It was only in the 1965 that lightweight body armor started when DuPont was able to produce a lightweight material which has the capability to stop rifle and reduce the impact of the projectiles. This material made of aramid fiber proved to have high tensile strength that is five times the strength of steel. Today, this is the most widely used body armors from soldiers, to policemen and even civilians. Numerous studies and experiments are still being done on the lightweight body armor in order to make it more efficient in providing protection and safety to the wearer.
During the early times, the body armors used by early civilizations were not as sophisticated and advanced as the body armor we use today. The earliest body armors were in the form wood or barks of trees, leather and hammered metal plates. These were the type of body armors used by soldiers in combats which were very effective during that time. Through the middle Ages, body armor became thinner and more polished because these body armors were not only used for combats but also for special ceremonies.
But due to the advent of gunpowder, these body armors became useless, obsolete and ineffective. Many have tried experimenting on different body armors that can be used to defy firearms. Ned Kelly produced suit of broiler plate iron armor which was very efficient yet used the armor for his own personal interest. France created different armors for the chest, thigh and legs yet never made them available to their soldiers. Soft armors were later started by the English by using tissue, cotton and silk. Bulletproof vests were created during the 1930’s which were effective but heavy and restrict mobility.
It was only in the 1965 that lightweight body armor started when DuPont was able to produce a lightweight material which has the capability to stop rifle and reduce the impact of the projectiles. This material made of aramid fiber proved to have high tensile strength that is five times the strength of steel. Today, this is the most widely used body armors from soldiers, to policemen and even civilians. Numerous studies and experiments are still being done on the lightweight body armor in order to make it more efficient in providing protection and safety to the wearer.