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Posted: 11/16/2006 3:37:45 PM EDT
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As a preface, I've read through the body armor sticky at the top, but I still have a question. I'm now currently looking into getting a plate carrier with a set of front/back plates. Whatever plates I get are going to be Level III+ Stand-Alone. My main question is about plate material. I've read that ceramic is much lighter and better for spall protection, but I also hear that it's generally less durable. If this is true, how durable is it? Are ceramic plates from a reputable company extremely fragile? I just don't have a frame of reference. |
| I also would like to know about the durability of ceramic plates. I am a LEO and am intending to buy a plate carrier and set of plates to keep in my car. I saw the posts that said if you take care of your equipment it would last; but I am curious as to how they would stand up in training. I don't intend to be doing "belly flops" on concrete. However, will going prone from a standing position cause undo stress on ceramic plates? |
I'd typed out a nice reply, but clicked on the wrong button on this new firefox browser and closed page accidently. This is a level 3 stand alone multi hit plate, it has spall guard and a ballistic nylon covering as well. I hate loosing my previous reply, but dont feel up to typing. level 3 stand alone plates $140 shipped, their web site isnt to helpful for the consumer like you and me, but I say these plates weigh about 6lb each. Ceramic, is for those who can afford to replaced them often, that how I see it.  TG |
Thanks for replying. I definitely can not afford to replace this. I am careful with my equipment, but I also know that shit happens. Where do you see the information regarding spall guards and covering? Can anyone vouch for this company? |
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My team has been using various ceramic plates for many years now. I have seen many guys drag the vest with the plate from the trunk of the car or SWAT vehicle and have it fall on asphalt or concrete. I think being in a carrier especially with mag pouches may absorb much of the shock. We shoot our armor after the listed expiration and they seem to hold up pretty well. They should hold up to proning out unless you do it belly flop style on the concrete. Full-Auto |
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The web sites they dont say, I contacted them through e-mails and phone. How ever, I did removed the stitching from the bottom of the ballistic nylon & pulled the plate out,sure enough kevlar spall guard is in place, front only. On my second set of plates that are tit/steel, I had to install my own kevlar materials on front, to serve as a spall guard. I have a new pc now, but use to have a pix of someone who actually shot this plate,using 556,7.62x39 and .308, they didnt penetrate this plate, they also placed a few 30.06 rounds through the plate, it did penetrate. If you like, I can get some pixs taking of this plate. Wasnt that long ago, I was asking such questions as yours. I feel like I'd made the right choice, these are multi hit stand alone plates, but I do have level 3a panel in conjunction anyways. TG |
| Keep in mind I don't have an Xray machine. Anyhow, I feel ceramic plates are tougher thana lot of people give them credit for. I've seen them thrown off the top of HMMWVs, bashed around the gunner's hatch, and generally not taken care off, and none of them has broken (by that I mean the plates felt like they were still one peice). Bear in mind that the ground was sand, not concrete. Heck, I've even sent some though the USPS inside a carboard box with no packaging, and they still stayed in one peice. |
And you're quite right. I do notice that a lot of the comments about the plates being fragile tend to come mainly from people who have never owned or used a set. My plates are just fine. And while I do take care of my stuff, I don't baby them. Unfortunately, people seem to see 'ceramic' and think 'coffee mug.' |
| yea guys just take care of the stuff....it isnt fragile...I mean its supposed to stop a damn bullet lol a drop on the ground is ok it wont shatter I mean think about it.......but a drop from a 10 story building and you doing a belly flop on top of it...well then yea I think it will be worthless after |
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As above, I don't think the Military would be so heavily invested in them is they were that fragile. As an alternative to ceramic, I'll mention polyethelyne. They are a little bit thicker, but a whole lot lighter than either steel or ceramic - 2-2.5 lbs IIRC. They are much more expensive though. The only issues I am aware of with them are if they get hot (left in your trunk on a hot summer day) they will be ruined. They also won't stop any kind of steel cored round, like the M-855. Otherwise, they do come in a level 3 stand alone. www.bulletproofme.com has them and some additional information. K |
| Ceramic is actually one of the most durable and strongest materials on the planet...especially pound for pound. It is beyond heat resistant. It sounds stupid but think about how durable a coffee cup actually is and it is just pure ceramic. You could probably beat someone to death with one and it may not break. Also look at how sturdy a toilet is and a 600 lb. dude can sit on a toilet for 50 years and it's fine. There's so many special things that companies do to the ceramic to make it withstand rifle fire so it's that much stronger. It is probably filled with a bunch of fiber strands and stuff (think of concrete with rebar steel) and baked and made as dense as possible. Hell, what do you think they make racing clutches out of for 1000+ hp cars. They're made out of multi layered ceramic covered disks. Here's what I plan on doing with my ceramic plates when I get them. Before I place them in my carrier, I'm going to find the most dense foam I possibly can and rap them in it and maybe vacuum pack them. The foam will then serve as a super dense yet absorbant buffer for any type of impact like a rough landing or a belly drop that could impact the corner of a magazine into them. It's almost definitely not neccessary but it'll serve as a nice little safe guard. |
My idea in vacuum packing is that it would help condense some otherwise bulky foam. I would use discretion with how much I condensed it...just enough to fit them comfortably into a carrier. I would also do so to help keep the foam water proofed and clean......nothing bad like stinky rifle plates 
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