DuPont announces new Kevlar technology

 stein fibers "The bottom line is that it stops bullets faster," said DaleOuthous, global business director for DuPont's personal protectionunit. According to DuPont, Kevlar XP can stop bullets within the firstthree layers of an 11-layer body armor vest, allowing the remaininglayers to absorb the energy of a bullet. Outhous said a typicalvest in use now would have 20 to 40 layers of material, with aminimum of nine layers needed to stop the bullet. In addition to better penetration protection, the new technologyalso better dissipates the energy from a bullet, resulting in lessblunt force trauma to the wearer from what is called "backfacedeformation" of a vest, DuPont said. Such trauma typically consistsof bruising and minor rib fractures, according to Dr. Deborah Steinof the University of Maryland's Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore. Michael Foreman of Point Blank Solutions, a Florida-based bodyarmor manufacturer, said his company already has produced twoprototype products with the new Kevlar technology, and that itshould help manufacturers meet more stringent body armor standardsbeing developed by the National Institute of Justice. "What we're seeing is a very good performance at a lower weight,"he said. While DuPont is looking at a range of applications, includingmilitary use, the new Kevlar technology is being targeted initiallyat better protection against high-caliber handguns for lawenforcement officers. According to DuPont, Kevlar XP provides 15percent less backface deformation and at least a 10 percent lighterweight vest design against one of the most challenging handgunthreats, a .44-caliber Magnum bullet. Outhous said he expects vests incorporating the new technology tobe available to law enforcement officers later this summer, and tofall within the existing price range for body armor vests ofbetween $400 to $1,000. While the new technology will help protect lives, DuPont believesit will also strengthen Kevlar's position against competitors inthe ballistic protection market, including high-strengthpolyethylene fibers made by Honeywell and Dutch manufacturer DSM. DuPont began making the new technology available to body armormanufacturers around the world about a month ago. Of 15 customerssampled, two have placed firm orders and five are pending,according to company spokeswoman Cathy Andriadis. DuPont refused to release specific sales figures for Kevlar, whichwas first used for ballistic protection in the 1970s. But Andriadissaid textile apparels such as Kevlar and Nomex account for about 20percent of revenue in its safety and protection unit, whichreported revenue of about $5.6 billion last year. DuPont has supplied Kevlar for use in body armor and helmets usedby the military for decades. The company also is a major supplierof Kevlar for armor protection on tanks, Humvees and other militaryvehicles. Last year, DuPont announced that it will invest $500 million for anew Kevlar production facility in South Carolina that is expectedto open in 2010. DuPont said the new plant, which represents thecompany's single-largest investment in Kevlar since the fiber wasinvented more than 40 years ago, will help boost global productionof Kevlar by more than 25 percent. Outhous said Kevlar XP is part of a DuPont effort to launch 1,000new personal protection products by 2015.