Phases Involved in the Testing of the Kevlar Body Armor

Though the years, government organizations has been in constant search of a possible material for the production of lightweight body armor that their police force can wear ever day. And the discovery of Kevlar in the 1960s by Stephanie Kwoek has led various innovations and improvements regarding soft and lightweight body armors. This discovery introduced the Kevlar Body Armor by DuPont Company to address the need for lightweight body armors. But before this Kevlar Body Armor can be made available to the public, rigorous and intensive testing must be made first. There are four phases that the Kevlar Body Armor has undergone before it was proven effective to resist bullets and to give protection.  

1. The first phase involved is its capability to resist bullets.

The first phase involved the testing of the Kevlar Body armor. Various pistol shots were made to determine if the fabric has the potential to stop a bullet. This experiment has proved them that Kevlar fabric indeed has the capability to stop a speeding bullet.

2. The second phase involved the number of layers of Kevlar fibers needed to prevent penetration.

In the first phase, the ability of the Kevlar Body Armor to stop a bullet was certified. And the next thing that they need to do is to determine how many layers are needed in order to prevent the bullet from entering the body. Experiments made involved the use of different pistols and guns at varying speeds in order to come up with a standard that can protect the police force from common threats.

3. The third phase is the medical testing

Medical testing involves the extensive testing of the performance and effectiveness of the Kevlar Body Armor. Even if Kevlar has can stop bullets, it cannot divert or avoid the impact or force of the bullet. This is called a blunt trauma. This medical testing is done to determine how the Kevlar body armor can prevent the sustenance of injuries by the body, the effects of blunt trauma and the possible injuries that can be suffered as a result of the force of the bullet.

4. The fourth phase is the determination of wear ability

In order to be useful and used as a protective covering, the Kevlar Body Armor must be tested for its wear ability. The objective of this phase is to settle if the body armor will not produce pressure or any tension on the torso while wearing it. Moreover, comfort ability and ease of movements must also be determined.