Spectra Shield Composite Materials

case study
LIGHTWEIGHT ARMOR SAVING LIVES
Spectra Shield composite materials providing protection on the front lines For years, the body armor used by armed forces personnel stationed around the world had a signicant drawback weight. The heavy armor tended to decrease mobility and increase fatigue in the eld. With the increase in global combat and soldiers facing lengthier periods of time on the front lines, the challenge was to nd lighter more effective materials without decreasing the effectiveness of protection. Advancements in ceramic technology and Honeywells Spectra Shield composite materials have led to enhanced ballistic protection in Small Arms Protective Insert (SAPI) armor plates. The SAPI plates are being used to provide superior personal protection on the front lines and have been credited with helping to save lives. Used by the U.S. Army and the Marine Corps, the fabric-covered plates are comprised of a ceramic strike face that is bonded to a panel made of multiple layers of Spectra Shield material. The ceramics are designed to shatter bullets into pieces and the Spectra Shield material limits the penetration of the bullet fragments, reducing the effects of blunt trauma. The Spectra Shield material is easily molded into a variety of shapes, is resistant to moisture, and excels in meeting specications for ballistic resistance and trauma reduction. SAPI plates with Spectra Shield material are also 50 percent lighter than previous mediumsized plates, reducing the weight of a military personnel load without a decrease in performance. At the core of Spectra Shield materials is Honeywell Spectra ber a highperformance polyethylene ber that is pound for pound 10 times stronger than steel and has a specic strength that is 40 percent greater than aramid bers. For more than 20 years Spectra ber has been used for various ballistic-resistance applications and is known for its strength and stopping power. This history of performance and reliability makes Spectra Shield technology a key choice for the leading manufacturers of SAPI plates, Ceradyne Inc.; Simula Inc., a division of Armor Holdings; and ArmorWorks, LLC. In addition to leading the way in lightweight, high-strength, high-performance composite armor materials, this revolutionary technology is also being used in ballistic riot shields and vehicle armament. New technologies promise even higher tensile strength for future Spectra ber.