DuPont has debuted a brand new model of its well-known bulletproof Kevlar material referred to as EXO at this yr’s United States Military Rangers’ Greatest Ranger Competitors at Fort Benning Georgia. The corporate says it’s the most vital aramid fiber innovation in over 50 years with not solely higher ballistic safety, but it surely’s additionally lighter, extra versatile, and extra warmth resistant.
Point out Kevlar and it is more likely to carry up photographs of bulletproof vests, however the materials has many extra functions. Blankets of it defend the Worldwide House Station from micrometeorites, it reinforces composite boat hulls, is spun into cordage, woven into sails, shaped into helmets and fire-resistant clothes, used as an alternative to asbestos, and became all the things from hockey sticks to tennis rackets.
Small marvel that 55 million tonnes of it below numerous names are produced worldwide yearly.
Technically, Kevlar is an aramid fiber, which is brief for fragrant polyamide – an artificial polymer materials shaped from fragrant rings of six carbon atoms organized alongside the axis of the fiber. Put merely, this makes the top end result very robust, abrasion resistant, warmth resistant, nonconductive, and non-inflammable below regular circumstances.
In keeping with DuPont, Kevlar EXO not solely reveals improved best-in-class ballistic safety over the earlier variations, additionally it is lighter and extra versatile, permitting mushy protecting vests made out of it to suit higher and put on extra comfortably. It is also warmth proof against as much as 500 °C (932 °F) and is extremely sturdy with no important loss in efficiency after 5 years.
“We’ve spent over a decade creating, refining and perfecting Kevlar EXO, and the result’s an trade altering platform that has catapulted our life safety capabilities to an entire new degree,” mentioned Steven LaGanke, international enterprise chief, DuPont Life Safety. “Developed and examined by main supplies specialists at DuPont, Kevlar EXO gives never-before-seen ballistic and thermal efficiency whereas additionally offering a versatile and light-weight resolution that empowers customers to function at peak efficiency. Whether or not for army members, regulation enforcement officers, personal safety or emergency responders, pound for pound, Kevlar EXO customers can higher handle vitality output even throughout probably the most demanding bodily duties.”
Supply: DuPont
