Why are bulletproof vests so tough? What material is able to withstand a revolver bullet? These are the questions that we will clarify now.
the american scientist Stephanie Kwolek, in 1965, in the search for a material with the thermal resistance of asbestos and the rigidity of fiberglass, he ended up discovering a new polymer. As is well known, bullets are made of steel, and the speed they achieve when launched makes them fatal. O Kevlar came to change that story: with the arrival of bulletproof vests, steel that was unbeatable became fragile.
- Kevlar Features: insoluble, immune to chemical attack, fire resistant, flexible and light.
And it is not only in vests that Kevlar material is applied, it is also used in coatings for aircraft engines to prevent an eventual explosion in the turbine from damaging them.
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- Kevlar composition: long benzene ring chains interconnected with amide groups. What makes it a highly resistant polymer is the organized chain structure. The attractive forces between molecules allow them to line up in rigid layers on top of each other. All this structural organization allows the Kevlar obtain resistance five times greater than that of steel, that is, it is much stronger.
- More Kevlar Applications: When fibers are added to this polymer, it becomes more resistant and can then be used for making from military shields, tennis rackets, space suits, to Formula One racing cars, among others applications.
Kevlar stood out even for providing greater security to the police. Now you know what the vest that allows you to fight crime without greater risks is made.
By Líria Alves
Graduated in Chemistry
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
SOUZA, Líria Alves de. "Kevlar: Bulletproof Polymer"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/quimica/polimero-prova-bala.htm. Accessed on June 28, 2021.
