Kevlar Body Armor started upon the discovery of Kevlar by Stephanie Kwoek, a research scientist in the 1960’s. Her group is making experiments in the DuPont research laboratory on the search for a lightweight and strong material for tires. Throughout the experiment, she was able to develop a fiber from liquid crystalline solution that she is working on that time. This fiber, initially a byproduct of a solution under study, was then found out to have high tensile strength. It means that this fiber does not easily break and can stretch to nay form. This discovery started a new field of polymer chemistry which has been the basis of many high tensile products today such as ballistic protection and body armors.
In line with this breakthrough, DuPont started making Kevlar fabric in large quantities to be used on various materials in 1971. Further studies, experiments and testing were made by DuPont to establish the performance of the Kevlar as a material for body armors. And in 1975, the Kevlar Body Armor held it first field trial conducted by police officers which was sponsored by the National Institute of Justice. After being certified by the NIJ to give protection and safety from various threats, the US Army later on adopted the Kevlar Body Armors for use on their military and police force. Kevlar was made for the flak jackets and helmets for the US Army.
In the 1980, DuPont started making Kevlar vests to be used again by the US Army which gives extreme protection from fragmentation, bullets, heat and flame. The use of the Kevlar vests and other Kevlar body armors has greatly reduced the casualties in the Army. Moreover, fatal and sever injuries sustained by the soldiers also decreased. These breakthroughs coupled by the increasing demand for Kevlar Body Armors have led to the continuous and constant improvement of the Kevlar Body Armors. Today, Kevlar Body Armors are now known to be lightweight, strong, comfortable and flexible. They make a superior product that is widely accepted and used by various organizations and police force.
