Posted: 11/25/2016 10:45:27 AM EDT
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Seeing more and more of this stuff pop up. Does it work? Can you get good protection when used with soft armor underneath?
1 lb. is insane. Is this the way of the future? https://www.scorpiustactical.com/collections/soft-armor/products/10x12-lightweight-polyethylene-body-armor 
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I sent you an IM when I meant to post here. The little one is running me ragged on my off day...
Polyethylene is good to go however, it has some environmental concerns such as temperature and direct sunlight that can possibly adversely affect the plate that wouldn't be much of a problem for ceramic or steel. Polyethylene has a lower melting point than ceramic or steel and can become brittle in (VERY) low temperatures. That said, you are unlikely to be out walking around in 250 to 280 °F (Edited for temperature range) or in -240 °F weather. There is also some concern regarding UV exposure of the polyethylene plate itself but, you aren't likely to be out wandering around playing with your plate long enough for damage to occur. I have no idea what long term damage, if any, would occur with leaving a plate inside of a vehicle day in and day out. I would suspect that it wouldn't be good. I've always tried to follow the mantra that if it's too hot for you, it is too hot for your armor. Know your materials, check out Wikipedia as a good launch pad for more reading https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ultra-high-molecular-weight_polyethylene. I know. It's Wikipedia. But, use it as a starting point to do more research. Increasing weight does not necessarily increase protection. |
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Take a look at Tegris which is a polypropylene/polypropylene composite. Some cool properties with just some extra work put into one of the lower cost plastics.
http://buildingspeed.org/blog/2014/04/25/a-nascar-splitter-inspired-kayak/ About 1/3 of the way down here http://www.compositesworld.com/articles/structural-armor-or-armored-structures |
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Well, it's a1 lb. for one. You know, so when are we going to see LVL 4 plates that are 2 lb? I guess imagination is hard. Quoted:
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It's 3A, who cares? Well, it's a1 lb. for one. You know, so when are we going to see LVL 4 plates that are 2 lb? I guess imagination is hard. It doesn't really scale up like that yet, I am sure some engineer is working on it though. |
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Take a look at Tegris which is a polypropylene/polypropylene composite. Some cool properties with just some extra work put into one of the lower cost plastics. No doubt, it is an awesome material in terms of what it can do. I'm sure it will one day be like a Glock/1911/(Insert whatever favored gun) debate. |
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It makes a good toboggan or pulk. Is it denser than typical HDPE? I've worked with that extensively and can't fathom how it would stop anything in a wearable thickness. My understanding is UHMWPE cannot be formed like HDPE. Armor plate UHMWPE is layered up in sheets which creates the necessary "strength" for bullet resistant applications. I'm not a chemist though and would LOVE to hear a chemist's opinion here. |
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Quoted:
Well, it's a1 lb. for one. You know, so when are we going to see LVL 4 plates that are 2 lb? I guess imagination is hard. Quoted:
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It's 3A, who cares? Well, it's a1 lb. for one. You know, so when are we going to see LVL 4 plates that are 2 lb? I guess imagination is hard. Apparently physics is harder. |
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Quoted: My understanding is UHMWPE cannot be formed like HDPE. Armor plate UHMWPE is layered up in sheets which creates the necessary "strength" for bullet resistant applications. I'm not a chemist though and would LOVE to hear a chemist's opinion here. Quoted: Quoted: It makes a good toboggan or pulk. Is it denser than typical HDPE? I've worked with that extensively and can't fathom how it would stop anything in a wearable thickness. My understanding is UHMWPE cannot be formed like HDPE. Armor plate UHMWPE is layered up in sheets which creates the necessary "strength" for bullet resistant applications. I'm not a chemist though and would LOVE to hear a chemist's opinion here. Oh, cool. It's the same stuff as Dyneema and Spectra. Now I get it. Long chained molecules. Much much longer than HDPE. You've seen "synthetic winch rope" to replace wire rope? That stuff. It's strength to weight ratio is ridiculous. I still can't believe it holds up to the heat generated by high velocity impacts. But it's amazing material. |
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PE hard plates are not susceptible to temperature concerns, unless you're in a temperature that will kill you anyway. That's exactly what I said but, you know as well as I do, some knuckle head will do something stupid and still expect their plate to take a round. "But it was only in the oven at 240 degrees for a few seconds!" I still wonder what the effects would be of leaving a UHMWPE in a car/trunk day in day out, if any. The interior of a car can easily reach 140 and over in the summer, I'd be hesitant to say there was zero concern of damage caused by long term exposure to temperatures like that. Kinda makes me want to buy one and test it for that scenario. |
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you're thinking about steel armor when hit by M193 Quoted:
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IIRC they don't stop much of anything from 5 yards? you're thinking about steel armor when hit by M193 Yes, but this armor is IIIA, which means it can stop handgun cartridges, .300 Subsonic, and not much else. For IIIA protection, I'd get soft armor. |
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Apparently physics is harder. Quoted:
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It's 3A, who cares? Well, it's a1 lb. for one. You know, so when are we going to see LVL 4 plates that are 2 lb? I guess imagination is hard. Apparently physics is harder. Derp. Yes, because improvements in manufacturing and materials are inconceivable. ETA - Just like the impossible EM drive. Physics is hard. |
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Well, it's a1 lb. for one. You know, so when are we going to see LVL 4 plates that are 2 lb? I guess imagination is hard. Quoted:
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It's 3A, who cares? Well, it's a1 lb. for one. You know, so when are we going to see LVL 4 plates that are 2 lb? I guess imagination is hard. It's IIIA, not III I'd much rather have soft armor. Level IIIA plates is retarded. |