There’s a lot of science that’s behind the creation of body armor, and that science results in some pretty cool materials–like our Duritium® technology and polyethylene–produced by some very well-known names across the world. In this blog, we’ll cover a few materials and companies used all over the world by many armor companies.
Invest in Your Future by Wearing Body Armor
Do it for yourself, and do it for your family. We create body armor so that those protecting us have protection at a lightweight and affordable cost. We thrive on helping provide the tools you need to make it home to your family after a long shift. That’s why we believe you should invest in your future by wearing not only proper-fitting ballistic protection but comfortable armor because that means you’re more likely to wear it.
Of course, that comfort level is defined differently from one company to the next because many different materials are used to create body armor. While we won’t be going that in-depth in this particular blog, we will discuss some of the varying materials you might see associated with body armor.
DYNEEMA
Dyneema is a material known as composite unidirectional laminate. Folks in the armor industry have all heard of the Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene that is starting to be used in more and more ballistics solutions applications. It works as a material for body armor because it absorbs energy very efficiently and it’s lightweight and low profile.
A company that produces Dyneema is Royal DSM, a Dutch company worth, oh… about 27 billion euros. What’s interesting about Royal is that they don’t just produce materials used in body armor; they’re also manufacturers of healthcare and nutrition-based supplies. ShotStop®’s very own proprietary formula of Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWP) goes head to head with Dyneema’s best formulas at lower cost with far more readily available supply. At this point, it’s exclusive to ShotStop’s own body armor, but in the near future may be licensed out to more global applications.
SPECTRA SHIELD
Another direct competitor on UHMWP materials is Spectra Shield is a strong material produced for armored vehicles and some parts of body armor you might find on the market. Interested in the company responsible for this material? You’ve probably heard of them before; it’s Honeywell.
GOLD SHIELD
Gold Shield is another material that falls under Honeywell. And to give you a little more information on Honeywell, they produce a lot of other materials outside of what’s needed to manufacture body armor. Honeywell manufactures everything from consumer goods and technical services to aerospace systems.
Unlike Spectra Shield, Gold Shield is a material used for soft armor, and it’s made by mixing Shield technology and aramid fiber.
GOLD FLEX
Like Spectra Shield and Gold Shield, Gold Flex is another material found under Honeywell, and it’s also used to make soft armor. Also, like DuPont, Honeywell is a multinational company but based in the United States.
Gold Flex is a bit heavier than Gold Shield, but it’s still a widely used material produced in the company, as it’s a lightweight option. The product is able to offer this lightweight feel because of its laminate, cross-laid (non-woven) fibers.
KEVLAR
Kevlar is very well-known if you’ve spent any time wearing armor, particularly in the military. If you’ve served in the military, you’ve probably been told at some point, “don your Kevlar.” Kevlar is perhaps the most well-known material on our list, first manufactured by DuPont, a $130 billion American company.
Unlike Dyneema, produced by a Dutch company, Kevlar is an American-made material manufactured by an American company specializing in chemicals needed to make protective equipment. However, while the company is US-based, they are a multinational company with employees worldwide.
TEIJIN
Teijin is a product of Japan, for two of Teijin’s trademarks, the first is Twaron, and then there’s Endumax.
Teijin or Teijin Limited is actually a chemical, pharmaceutical, and IT-based company. But, the center of the company lies in high-performance carbon fibers, carbon composites, and aramid, as Twaron is used to produce hard plates and Endumax for ballistic vest manufacturers.
GOODYEAR TIRE AND RUBBER COMPANY
Akron, Ohio is known as the polymer capital of the world because Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company has called Ohio home for more than 100 years (established in 1898). Goodyear (GT) has established itself as one of the best and ingenuitive companies in the world.
ShotStop®
Our very own scientists have worked in the Goodyear research center to study the use of polymers in ballistic material and the efficacy of polyethylene in body armor. ShotStop® has been revolutionizing ballistic material for decades based on extensive research we’ve been fortunate enough to conduct in conjunction with Goodyear. We believe Goodyear is a great company that has helped us reach our professional goals over the years and continues to help us innovate.
If you’re interested in learning about the materials ShotStop® uses, read our blogs: Polyethylene and Body Armor and What is Duritium® Technology? And as always, don’t hesitate to reach out about getting your unit in the lightest, thinnest, and most comfortable ballistic plates on the market. You can email us at ShotStop@sales.com with any and all questions.