The bulletproof fabric is both lightweight and strong
Jin Zhang Group, Peking University
A groundbreaking new material has been developed, boasting incredible strength that surpasses that of Kevlar and Dyneema. Just a thin 1.8-millimetre sheet of this material is capable of stopping a bullet, potentially making it the strongest fabric ever created.
Traditional bulletproof vests function by dispersing the energy of an incoming projectile through a network of interconnected fibres. However, the polymer chains in materials like Kevlar can slip under extreme stress, limiting their protective capabilities.
Over the past six years, Jin Zhang and his team at Peking University have been dedicated to creating materials with even greater strength than existing options. Their recent breakthrough involves aligning carbon nanotubes with aramid polymer chains to prevent molecular slippage, resulting in a fabric that outperforms Kevlar in terms of strength and durability.
Described as a “fabricated carbon nanotube/heterocyclic aramid composite,” the new material is significantly stronger than Kevlar. With just a single layer measuring 0.6 millimetres in thickness, it can effectively reduce the velocity of a bullet from 300 to 220 metres per second. Approximately three layers of this fabric are sufficient to completely stop a bullet, with a total thickness of 1.8 mm, compared to the 4 mm required by Kevlar.
Julie Cairney, a researcher at the University of Sydney, commends the innovative combination of aramid fibres and oriented carbon nanotubes in this new material. She sees great potential for the development of other advanced composites using this approach, which is also compatible with existing industrial processes, promising scalability and real-world applications.
The implications of this new material are vast, with potential applications in creating lighter and more effective bulletproof vests and armor for personal and military protection. It represents a significant advancement in safety technology, offering enhanced protection without compromising mobility.
