Kevlar turns 60
In the arena of materials that have redefined our daily lives, Kevlar reigns supreme. At VEST PARIS, we believe we have a certain legitimacy to talk about this subject, since we've been using it every day for the past 10 years in the V007 bulletproof vest.
Kevlar's strength, lightness and versatility have made it an ally of choice in fields as varied as aerospace, security and, more recently, fashion.
In this article, you'll learn all about this material, its history, its virtues, its applications and even its successors. Welcome to the Kevlar revolution, an adventure that began exactly 60 years ago.
Stephanie Kwolek's chance discovery
The Kevlar odyssey began in 1965, in the laboratories of DuPont, a scientific company founded in 1802 in the United States. Chemist Stephanie Kwolek, in search of better-performing synthetic fibers, came across a polymer solution with unexpected properties.
Unlike conventional polymers, this solution is cloudy and milky. Intuition or genius, Kwolek insisted that his colleague Charles Ganochot spin it. The result was a yellow fiber, five times stronger than steel for the same weight. Kevlar was born, and would revolutionize entire industries.
Why this name? No matter how hard we looked for the meaning of the word Kevlar, there was none to be found. Kevlar is a registered trademark of the DuPont company.
Kevlar, the child of petrochemicals
If you're a layman, we'll try to simplify the scientific explanation of Kevlar, whose origins lie in the petrochemical industry pioneered by DuPont in the 19th century.
Hang on, this is the most complicated part of the article: Kevlar is a member of the aramid family of synthetic polymers whose monomers are linked by amide bonds. Not easy, is it?
These aramids are obtained from aromatic compounds, themselves derived from petroleum. In short, petroleum is the raw material from which the molecules are synthesized which, once polymerized, give rise to aramid and, by extension, Kevlar.
If there's one thing to take away from all this, it's the close relationship between oil, aramid and Kevlar.
The virtues of Kevlar
Kevlar owes its exceptional properties to its molecular structure. Its polymer chains are aligned in parallel, giving the material outstanding tensile strength. What's more, Kevlar is lightweight and resistant to heat and chemicals. Its applications are legion:
Safety: bullet-proof vests, helmets, protective equipment.
Industry: tire reinforcements, aeronautical components, cables.
Sport and leisure: climbing ropes, boat sails, protective equipment for motorcyclists.
Fashion: protective clothing, jackets, jeans.
We won't go into each of these areas here, as the list of everyday applications is endless. Let's concentrate on one area in particular: ballistics and other projectiles, a subject we at VEST PARIS have mastered.
Kevlar, the star material against projectiles
It's a reflex: when you think bulletproof, you immediately think Kevlar (even if it's not the only technology used against bullets). In any case, it's the first question our customers ask when they enquire about the V007 bulletproof vest.
As mentioned above, Kevlar's ability to absorb and disperse projectile energy makes it a valuable ally in protection against ballistic threats.
In addition to bulletproof vests, Kevlar is also used in the design of ballistic helmets, offering enhanced protection against shrapnel and projectiles. It is also used in the manufacture of armor for military and civilian vehicles, enhancing occupant protection against gunfire.
In the aerospace field, Kevlar is also used to reinforce the structures of airplanes and helicopters, protecting them against debris impacts and possible gunfire.
Finally, it is used in the design of ballistic shields, offering mobile protection to law enforcement and intervention units.
How does Kevlar protect against bullets?
A little education at this stage would be welcome. The ballistic protection offered by Kevlar is based on its ability to absorb and dissipate the kinetic energy of a projectile.
Simply put, when a bullet strikes a Kevlar structure, the projectile's kinetic energy is transferred to the material's fibers. These fibers, with their exceptional tensile strength, stretch and deform, distributing the impact energy over a wider surface.
This is precisely what happens when a bullet hits a V007 jacket. It's made up of 26 juxtaposed sheets that will absorb this energy and save your life.
This energy dissipation process takes place in 4 stages:
1- Initial absorption: The first layers of Kevlar absorb the initial impact, slowing the ball down.
2- Deformation and stretching: Kevlar fibers stretch and deform, converting kinetic energy into deformation energy.
3- Energy dissipation: Energy is distributed over a wide area of the material, reducing the concentrated impact force.
4- Stopping the projectile: The energy is finally dissipated, stopping the bullet's progress.
But Kevlar's effectiveness as ballistic protection depends on a number of factors, including :
Number of layers: The more layers of Kevlar, the more effective the protection. The V007 model has 26.
Weave: The weave of Kevlar fibers influences its ability to absorb energy.
Projectile caliber: Higher-caliber projectiles generate more kinetic energy, requiring thicker Kevlar structures.
VEST PARIS and its bulletproof vest V007
VEST PARIS has transcended the traditional use of Kevlar by elegantly integrating it into its V007 model.
The V007 bulletproof model, the brand's centerpiece, embodies the ultimate fusion of style and protection. The world's only sleeveless down jacket with level IIIA bulletproof protection supplied by Protecop. On-board ballistics are a hybrid of Kevlar and Spectra from American manufacturer Honeywell.
The V007 vest is designed to be worn every day like a classic jacket. Comfortable, light and sober, it is above all more practical, more elegant and more discreet than a bullet-proof vest.
The future of Kevlar and its successors
While Kevlar has revolutionized many sectors, the search for even higher-performance materials continues.
Scientists are exploring new synthetic fibers, such as M5, which promises even greater strength. At the same time, work is being carried out on carbon nanotubes, whose exceptional mechanical properties could open up new prospects.