Armory Sponsor
Posted: 9/4/2008 11:05:20 PM EDT
Question for you body armor know it all's I just picked up a set of BALCS cut soft panels and am planning to add some rifle plates to them. My question is I plan to keep the vest in my car for those "Probably never going to happen SHTF" type cases and wondering if heat will cause the armor or plates to degrade faster? I know it probably sounds like a dumb question and I am thinking not but my trunk could get in the 120's to 130's in the summer here easy. Thanks for giving an armor newb a break 
|
|
While no expert I seem to recall reading that while heat does them no good it was actually the combination of heat and "moisture" that tends to degrade vests most. mike eta - forgot to mention; while true, it's none of my business, have you considered the explaination you are going to give for "why are you are toting around a bullet proof vest in your trunk" should some inquisitive LEO ask? |
|
For 100% Kevlar soft armor, it's generally the combination of heat and moisture rather than just heat alone. If you have a hybrid vest (with Dyneema, Spectra, or any other polyethylene-derived material), then heat is bad. HDPE (high density polyethylene) or UHMWPE (ultra high molecular weight polyethylene) loses its ballistic integrity if it gets over about 160-170 degrees....like the trunk of a car. This also include polyethylene hard armor plates, too. |
| For plates (aside from poly plates) heat should never be an issue. For Kevlar, I highly advise against leaving it out in heat for long periods of time. This goes particularly for inside a car. During the summer, when is it NOT humid as all hell in a car, especially in a place like the trunk where you only get heat and not sunlight (which helps to evaporate moisture). In this manner, it will still last the 5 years or so that manufacturers typically warranty/bond them for but if you want the kevlar to last almost indefinitely, heat=bad! |
|
Cool thanks for the replies guys! I guess heat is a no go so I will not leave them in the car. Slight chance I would ever need them in my car anyways it was just more of a meer thought really. Don't want to destroy these since BALCS panels are not cheap. Thanks again
|
Armory Sponsor