AU-DEVELOPED BULLET-PROOF FABRIC GIVES MORE PROTECTION, COMFORT

AUBURN – Any law enforcement officer will tell you, the two most important features sought in ballistic-resistant apparel are protection and comfort. But where body armor is concerned, increased protection generally means less comfort.

A new patented fabric developed by Auburn University researchers may well be the answer to an improved generation of bullet-proof garments by offering more of both qualities than is possible with any of the materials currently used in body armor.

Developed by Howard Thomas, an assistant professor in the Department of Textile Engineering, the fabric has the appearance of felt. Looks are deceiving, however, as this new layered material can stop a high-velocity rifle bullet at close range – something conventional body armor can't match.

Conventional ballistic-resistant fabrics also can't match Thomas' development where comfort is concerned.

Body armor fabrics currently are based on polyamides (a group of synthetic fibers, including nylon) and polyethylene, Thomas said. The fabrics are woven and various layers are used to construct garments. Increasing the ballistic protection factor means increasing the number of fabric layers in the garment.

"Garments made of these materials provide a substantial degree of protection, but they
don't breathe and transport body moisture efficiently," Thomas added. "As you can imagine, they can be quite hot and uncomfortable, and types presently produced still aren't effective against hand guns at close range – and certainly not against rifle bullets."

Thomas' fabric is not woven, but laid in alternating layers using various arrangements of the types of fibers used in Kevlar® and Spectra® -- two ballistic-resistant products that currently dominate the market -- and fluffed into a mat-like material. Tiny ceramic or metallic inserts are imbedded into the fabric.

"The mat actually acts as a cushion, absorbing and distributing the shock of a bullet more efficiently than conventional woven fabric," he said. "The imbedded inserts serve as deflectors, reducing the energy of the bullet by diverting its path in a multitude of directions simultaneously.

"When a bullet strikes the fabric, it strikes multiple deflective surfaces and spins at so many different angles and rates of speeds within itself, that it literally disintegrates."

When sandwiched between layers of conventional woven ballistic-resistant material, the result is a garment weighing up to 30 percent less than those currently available that also provides greater protection and comfort to the wearer.

Thomas' fabric has performed effectively in tests at ranges as close as three feet against various bullet calibers, including .22; .38; 9mm; .45; .44 mag; and high-velocity rifle rounds such as the .223 and .308 AK-47/SKS; .270; and .30-06.

In addition to body armor, Thomas says his fabric may have other ballistic-protection applications in law enforcement and military vehicles and in building construction.

sept'98:au-ballistics fabric

CONTACT: Thomas, 844-5461