Bulletproof Body Armor Plate

Benefits of Poly Body Armor
Rifle-Grade Protection: Polyethylene plates are the only way to get rifle-grade protection from lightweight body armor. Polyethylene offers the same level of protection as steel, protecting against all of the following bullets:

• 7.62×51 M80 at 2,780 feet per second (FPS)
• 5.56×45 M193 at 3,150 FPS
• 7.62×39 AK-47 at 2,380 FPS

Durable: Unlike ceramic body armor, which can break easily, polyethylene can withstand being dropped to the ground. While ceramic body armor may still be in its original shape, there is no way to know for sure without an X-ray. Users of polyethylene body armor have the peace of mind that polyethylene will not develop any microscopic cracks that could compromise its integrity.

Lightweight: If you need rifle-grade protection from a plate that weighs less than 4 pounds, polyethylene body armor is the way to go. The lightweight design allows you to easily handle high-intensity physical activities. Heavier bulletproof plates tend to fatigue faster. This is the main advantage of PE bulletproof plates.

Buoyancy: PE bulletproof plates are also neutrally buoyant, which is an attractive feature. This is especially beneficial for people who work near water. In this case, steel bulletproof plates may not be the best choice. It is very dangerous to go into the water with an 18-pound (about 8 kg) steel bulletproof plate hanging on your body. It is great that PE bulletproof plates allow you to fall into the water without endangering your life.

Resistance to multiple hits: Due to the unique way that polyethylene bulletproof plates "capture" bullets, they can resist multiple hits. This means that even if you are hit, the effectiveness of the bulletproof plate will not decrease. Of course, this does not mean that you can withstand countless hits without any damage.

Disadvantages of polyethylene bulletproof vests
1. Lack of full coverage protection: According to the standards of the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), the outer edge of PE bulletproof vests may not be considered bulletproof areas. This area is probably between 2 and 3 inches (about 5 to 7 cm) from the outer edge. If you buy a 10" x 12" PE plate, you are not getting 120 square inches (about 10 square cm) of ballistic protection. If this is a concern, consider steel body armor for full coverage.
2. Thicker and harder to conceal: Since polyethylene is very light, it takes quite a bit of material to achieve its purpose. It is about 1 inch (about 2.5 cm) thick or thicker, which makes this type of body armor difficult to conceal. PE is usually the thickest material of all body armor. If you have ever worn concealable body armor, you know how much thickness affects the body armor.
3. Greater back face deformation: When a projectile hits a body armor, the plate deforms inwards, against the body. This is what we call back face deformation (BFD). Remember, PE doesn't break down and deflect bullets, it captures them. So, no matter how thick the PE armor is, polyethylene armor plate tests will show a fair degree of BFD. According to the NIJ .06 standard, the BFD must be less than 44 mm, which should be no problem to pass this test. But even if it passes the test, it's enough to injure your internal organs. Therefore, we recommend using trauma pads with any armor liner.
4. Short Shelf Life and Expensive: So, what is the shelf life of polyethylene armor? Polyethylene armor has a shelf life of 5 years, which is standard for most armor.
But does this mean it's useless after 5 years? No, the effectiveness of the armor may decrease before or after 5 years. If you want more durable armor, you might want to look at steel armor. It has a shelf life of up to 20 years, and you don't have to worry about replacing it frequently. The cost of replacing body armor every five years can be prohibitive for the average citizen.
5. Sensitive to Extreme Temperatures: Polyethylene is sensitive to extreme temperatures. Leaving your polyethylene body armor in excessively hot or cold weather can cause the material to degrade. This can easily happen because some people may store their body armor in the trunk of their car for long periods. This can reduce the protective effectiveness of your body armor, and you may not realize it until it is too late.