Russia’s “Kamensk Fibers” company displays AuTx new aramid fiber
The Russian company “Kamensk Fibers” demonstrated AuTx new Nomex fiber at the Milipol-2011 exhibition in Paris. This fiber can be used to make bulletproof vests that are stronger and lighter than Kevlar. The US military and British special forces in Afghanistan are testing this kind of bulletproof vest, but it is not yet known whether the Russian army will purchase this kind of bulletproof vest.
Other details about this new chemical fiber that can be used to make bulletproof vests have not been released, including its aging rate (the protective performance of “Kevlar” bulletproof vests will decrease 5 to 10 years after they leave the factory, depending on the materials used. density and mass), stability after absorbing water. I only know that AuTx is fire-resistant and can be used to make fire-fighting protective clothing.
It is understood that AuTx fiber was jointly developed by a Russian company and the British company Alchemie Technologies. According to the company “Kamensk Fibers”, the basis of this new material is “Nomex heterocyclic polymer fiber”. At the same time, the dynamic strength of AuTx is twice that of other similar fibers. It is predicted that the weight of a bullet-proof vest made of “gold fabric” is only one-half of that of a “Kevlar” bullet-proof vest.
According to the description of AuTx on Alchemie Technologies’ website, the “gold fabric” actually does not age. Not only that, the fiber strength of the bulletproof vest will increase during storage. For example, a bulletproof vest made of AuTx will increase its blast resistance by 2% during storage. In addition, the AuTx fiber is treated with supplementary reagents during production so that the “golden fabric” will not lose its properties when in contact with water, oil or other liquids.
The “Kevlar” commonly used today will lose its strength after being exposed to the sun or soaked in water. Of course, the material’s properties are restored after drying. In order to prevent rain, “Kevlar” bulletproof vests use a special outer cover or water-repellent dipping rubber. Kevlar becomes brittle when heated, and storing bulletproof vests in high temperatures can accelerate the aging of the material.
In any case, when the “Kamensk Fiber” company talks about significantly reducing the weight of bulletproof vests, it is probably referring to so-called “soft” protective equipment. They do not use additional protective inserts made of steel, titanium or polymer or ultra-high molecular polyethylene. This bulletproof vest is a vest with inserted shields. This kind of guard is sewn with 15 to 18 layers of “Kevlar” or Telon or Amos (the latter two are actually “Kevlar”, but the explosion-proof strength is different) .
According to the requirements of Russian national standards, this bulletproof vest can ensure a level 2 protection, and in some cases can reach level 2A. Level 2 bulletproof vests can withstand damage from 5.45mm bullets from the ПСМ pistol and 7.62mm bullets from Tokarev. Class 2A bulletproof vests can withstand 18.5mm bullets from 12x caliber shotguns.
But for regular bulletproof vests with level 4 protection or higher, using lighter chemical fibers may not significantly reduce the weight of individual protective equipment. For example, the 6Б13 bulletproof vest (developed within the framework of the “Face Armor” project) already equipped by the Russian Armed Forces can reach level 4 protection (can withstand the damage of 5.45 mm bullets from the AK-74 automatic rifle and bullets from submachine guns), weighing approximately 11kg. The 6Б11 bulletproof vest has a level 2 protection and weighs only 5 kilograms. There are also lighter weight bulletproof vests.
Currently, the blast resistance of modern Nomex fiber used in bulletproof vests is 280 to 550 kg/mm². Among other things, the latter indicator is specific to the Amos fiber used in several models of Russian bulletproof vests.
However, under current conditions, the development of stronger and lighter new chemical fibers must be carried out at the same time as the upgrade of other parts of individual protective equipment. For example, the 6Б43 bullet-proof vest installed in July 2010 uses some ultra-high molecular polyethylene materials to bring the all-round protection level to level 6A (can withstand 7.62 mm bullets of the СВД rifle and B-32 armor-piercing incendiary bombs). ). The bulletproof vest has a modular design, which means it can be unpacked and certain parts can be left unused depending on the task. The 6Б43 bulletproof vest weighs more than 15 kilograms when fully assembled.
However, it is not just Nomex fibers and panels that can increase the weight of a bulletproof vest, but also the outer material – plastic, polycarbonate or foam rubber. The job of these materials is to weaken the impact of bullets on bulletproof vests. In most cases, modern bulletproof vests can reliably protect soldiers, but they still have a lot of shortcomings, including weight that increases with the increase in protection level, insufficient wearing comfort, and inconvenience for insertion and attachment. equipment. You must understand that with a bulletproof vest weighing 15 kilograms or more, coupled with weapons and ammunition, communication equipment, grenades and a helmet, soldiers can no longer run.
Today, the whole world is paying attention to reducing the weight of individual protective equipment. As for Russia, it can only be said that research and development work is underway, but no details have been released yet. Research in the development of new ballistic materials and various liquids and colloids can significantly strengthen existing fibers.
In 2007, “liquid armor” was demonstrated in Russia, which is a type of armor filled with��m solid particles and ultra-sensitive liquid pockets composed of gel. Severe impact, bullet or shrapnel hits can cause the particles to instantly combine with each other, turning the gel into a solid conforming material, blocking foreign objects from entering the structure. The trials conducted were successful. It is estimated that “liquid armor” will first be used to improve the protective performance of cars, helicopters and aircraft.
Interestingly, we learned in mid-2010 that the UK was also developing “liquid armor”, which is a slippery, viscous substance. It is estimated that the use of this material will significantly reduce the weight of the new generation of bulletproof vests. BAE Systems is also developing armor. The British creation works similarly to the Russian one.
It should be noted that non-Newtonian fluids have long attracted the attention of the military. In 2009, the UK developed D3O gel that thickens when hit by bullets. There are plans to use the gel in helmets and bulletproof vests, but it has not yet been certified. In the United States, the company engaged in the research and development of “liquid armor” is Armor Holdings, which has launched its own research and development products to the Pentagon Advanced Research Projects Agency.
At the same time, the U.S. Marine Corps and Army plan to abandon MICH and PASGT “Kevlar” helmets in the future and adopt polyethylene helmets. The weight of the new helmet will be 300 to 1050 grams lighter than the original one. The main material will be ultra-high molecular polyethylene, known as Dyneema and Spectra in the United States. This material is already used to make the chest and back protective plastic of bulletproof vests. Of course, this bulletproof vest not only uses ultra-high molecular polyethylene, but also Nomex fiber fabric integrated into it.
Since the end of 2010, U.S. and British troops stationed in Afghanistan have been required to wear special protective shorts made of nylon and “Kevlar” fibers in addition to general bulletproof vests and helmets when performing missions. The shorts do not prevent damage caused by shrapnel when a mine explodes, but they do prevent fragments of the explosive device from penetrating the wound. In the future, service members will also begin wearing vests made from the same material as their shorts. In addition, the material is anti-bacterial and its resistance does not decrease after cleaning. This feature comes in handy in the scorching heat of Afghanistan.
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