Para-Aramid is the most commonly used material as armour for protection against bullets used in hand guns because of its impact resistance, high strength and low weight. These properties make Para-Aramid an ideal material to be used in bullet-proof vests as compared to other materials. In the present study, different numbers of layers of Para Aramid with different weights are tested to determine the weights and the number of layers needed to design a safe bullet-proof vest.

Para Aramid used in the vests is comprised of a woven fabric consisting of synthetic fibres made through polymerisation. It is a high strength material known for its high strength to weight ratio, and in comparison to the strength to weight ratio of steel, Para Aramid is five times stronger. The lightweight property of Para Aramid in conjunction with its high tensile strength (3620 MPa) and its capacity for energy absorption in comparison to other materials, makes it an ideal material for use in body armours. Ballistic applications of Para Aramid based composites mostly include protective clothing.

Whenever the combination of high functionality, comfort and economy is required, you will find advanced para aramid yarns being used in sophisticated fabric constructions tailored for specific end uses. In general, ballistic threats emanate either from bullets or fragments. Bullets can be defined as projectiles of various shapes and consistencies shot from weapons such as pistols, revolvers and rifles. Fragments, on the other hand, can originate from explosions (e.g., grenade detonations) or as pellets from shotguns. The manifold kinetic characteristics and deformation behaviors of such a broad range of bullets and fragments mean that a number of different stopping mechanism are required for full ballistic protection.

Soft-core bullets can be stopped with soft panels, i.e., textile fabrics layered on top of one another. However, specifications today often have to cover different types of bullets with different physical characteristics. Some of these require a customized and dedicated textile solution. Thanks to the high flexibility and wearing comfort that is possible today, such solutions can now be incorpo- rated into body armor applications.

Hard-core (AP) ammunition is fragmentized by steel or ceramic plates, and these fragments are then “caught” by resin-impregnated textile layers. While these hard plates can be used in body armor, they are mainly employed for vehicle and other hard-protection purposes.

Most current Para Aramid ballistic materials used for personal protection are woven, the advantage is:

• Fabrics offer very good stability, as well as flexibility

• Fabrics are easy to handle, to cut and to process into finished product

• Fabrics can be finished to be water-repellent, making them superior to other materials when exposed to moisture

• On ballistic impact, threads are not pulled out or pushed aside

• The required production technology is widely available

• A matrix can be easily applied to a fabric, allowing the use of laminates for even higher levels of protection if required.