The police department, army, Secret agencies, etc. who protect us require protection themselves against bullets and knife stabbings.

The police department, army, Secret agencies, etc. who protect us require protection themselves against bullets and knife stabbings. This protection is provided by personal body armor. Though a single bulletproof vest does not suffice for all kind of attacks, they are of different types made of unique materials. When a bullet strikes a person putting on such a vest, the bullet is caught by the fibers of the armor material and it prevents it from penetrating inside the body of the person. As the bullet has a very high velocity, it would have quite high impact energy as well, which will be dispersed by the armor material, thus reducing its effect.

Personal body armor can be broadly classified as soft body armor and hard body armor. Soft body armor is exactly what its name suggests, it is a bulletproof vest made out of contemporary, light weighted, soft material that are sewn so tightly that it becomes bullet-resistant. Hard body armor is made out of metal plates and ceramic materials, which is very hard as well as robust; the bullet can never penetrate such a vest. In terms of protection, the hard body armor is much better whereas the soft body is far beyond compare when we talk about comfort.

There are different standards of personal body armor, which decides the strength of the vest. When not a very high level of protection is required, the type I vest is good enough, which can defend .22 Long rifle and .380 ACP bullet. Type IIA bulletproof vest works effectively against 9mm as well as .40 S &W full metal jacketed-round nose bullet.

Type II is good against 0.357 Magnum and 9mm high bullets whereas type III-A is for 9mm and .44 Magnum bullets of high velocity.

Type III is ideal against the 7.62 FJM bullets while Type IV is for arm piercing ammunition of .30 calibers.

While purchasing personal body armor, it is very important to consider the material. The material must be selected keeping in mind the utility of the bulletproof vest and the weather condition of the location where the customer resides. Kevlar is an organic material, which was manufactured in the year 1965 for the first time. It is a very low-weight and high resistant fabric which does not melt easily. Spectra fiber is a very lightweight and strong polyethylene material that can be used to make both soft and hard armors. Alumina/ceramic and metal plates are very robust, durable and hence, used for hard armors. These days there are new materials like carbon tubes or nano particle being used to make these armors to provide the customers with greater protection.

The durability of personal body armor depends on various factors such as its material, how often it is worn and if it is well maintained or not. Follow the instructions given by the manufacturer to maintain your safety vest. Bulletproof vest longevity also depends on the fit of the armor; if you are wearing a wrong size or have gained weight, the vest would not last very long.