I've always contemplated purchasing some armor plates just for the hell of it, and I'm seeing an increase in non-ceramic plates, usually made of some sort of polyethylene. They're marketed as being significantly lighter than traditional ceramic plates, but appear to be thicker. Supposedly, they are able to take more repeated hits because the material doesn't crack upon impact and maintain integrity longer.

 

I'm going to admit I'm skeptical, but they seem to be pretty legitimate from some of the informal testing I've seen on YouTube and elsewhere.

It's hdpe. Rifle rated stuff is about an inch thick, and the rifle rated stuff I have seen isn't class iv, but Iii+ that covers 7.62x39 and ss109 5.56.

 

Hdpe is stupidly tough stuff.

I wonder if its actually ultra high molecular weight PE (UHMWPE) rather than HDPE? The site I saw just said "polyethylene".

 

The Spectra/Dyneema products are UHMWPE although that's woven fibers

I've read that you want to avoid the polymer based plates, especially when in a hot environment. The polymer has a tendency to heat up, and has a  chance of it losing its ballistic protection.

 

Thats just what I read though, maybe someone with more experience in polymer plates can chime in.

i'll defer to experts on the matter but I have heard that wearing a hard plate up front is not advisable as some projectiles have hit said plates and deflected up or down and caused trauma..I personally have a soft trauma plate up front..

i'll defer to experts on the matter but I have heard that wearing a hard plate up front is not advisable as some projectiles have hit said plates and deflected up or down and caused trauma..I personally have a soft trauma plate up front..

from what ive been seeing on youtube videos they have fixed the spalling issues with a spray on coating. i believe its made by the same company that makes the rhino liner for truck beds.

i'll defer to experts on the matter but I have heard that wearing a hard plate up front is not advisable as some projectiles have hit said plates and deflected up or down and caused trauma..I personally have a soft trauma plate up front..

 

That is a ballistic steel plate issue, not ceramic.

I thought we couldn't own body armor in nj

I thought we couldn't own body armor in nj

 

You can.  Just don't get caught with it while committing a crime.... it's an add-on charge just like hollow points.

You can.  Just don't get caught with it while committing a crime.... it's an add-on charge just like hollow points.

gotcha...thanks.....about as dumb as the 'hate crimes' lol