Body Armor
Body Armor or “Personal armor(or personal armour) is the whole of protecting clothing, designed to absorb and/or deflect slashing, bludgeoning, and penetrating attacks. They were historically used to protect soldiers, whereas today, they are also used to protect police forces, private citizens and private security guards or bodyguards. Two types exist: regular non-plated personal armor (used by the people mentioned above, except combat soldiers) and hard-plate reinforced personal armor, which is used by combat soldiers, police tactical units and hostage rescue teams.” (Wikipedia, Personal Armor, 1/11/2011)
Recent US Patents
11/2/2010
7,825,045
Advanced body armor
Wagner and Wetzel of the University of Delaware, Delaware have developed a body armor composite material with a fabric impregnated with shear thickening fluid. This invention offers a ballistic resistant material that is more flexible and less bulky than comparable, conventional ballistic fabric. The material in the alternative can be puncture resistant. The invented material offers superior ballistic performance and/or puncture resistance compared to conventional ballistic fabric-based materials of equal thickness. (RDC 3/2/2011)
10/19/2010
7,814,567
Protective garment having a quick release system
Dovner and Lesley of First Choice Armor & Equipment, Minnesota has develop protective garment, such as a body armor vest, equipped with a quick-release system comprising a front portion, a rear portion, and connectors for releasably attaching the front portion to the rear portion. (RDC 1/12/2011)
10/12/2010
7,811,498
Process for the production of a shaped article
Mokveld and Beugels of DSM, Netherlands has developed a process for producing an improved anti-ballistic material by compressing polyolefin fibers containing 0.02 to 25 wt% solvent. (RDC 1/7/2011)
Recent Journal Articles
1/28/2011
Hydrolytic stability of polybenzobisoxazole and polyterephthalamide body armor
(247-254) Polymer Degradation and Stability 96 #2 (2011)
Forster et al of theNational Institute of Standards and Technology, Maryland studied the hydrolysis of soft body armor containing the material poly(p -phenylene-2,6-benzobisoxazole), or PBO. Studies showed that chain scission due to complete hydrolysis is occurring in this material. (RDC 1/29/2011)