In the bulletproof clothing grade standard formulated by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ), level 4 bulletproof clothing is the highest level of protection in the world. When you try to protect yourself from the threat of bullets, it is the highest level of protection you can buy.
Because it has the best protection, many people want to know what this thing may be made of, so that it has such an advantage in battle, and why it can have such high protection.
In this article, we will tell you exactly what materials are used in manufacturing the highest level of ballistic protection, and introduce all the information you need to know about level 4 bulletproof vests! Make you an expert in bulletproof vests!
WHAT IS LEVEL IV BODY ARMOR MADE OF?
Hard shell armor can consist of many materials, but class IV armor is usually made of the following materials
1.Ceramic
Maybe everyone’s influence on ceramics stays in the picture of making ceramics in the “human ghost situation is not over”. They mistakenly think that ceramics are very soft things. In fact, this influence is completely wrong.
In fact, the working principle of ceramic armor is harder than the bullet itself. Because of this incredible hardness, ceramics can prevent armor piercing ballistics such as the “black tip” 30-06 m2ap bullet. These bullets have a very hard steel armor piercing bullet that can pass directly through steel (common in class III armor). But ceramics can twist and corrode bullets so that they can’t do that much damage.
Unlike steel, monolithic ceramics can be made into various shapes and curvatures to adapt to different body shapes.
What are their shortcomings? When pressed, the ceramics are fragile and must be handled carefully to prevent cracking, fragmentation or, in the worst case, complete damage to the striking surface.
2.Boron carbide (also known as “B4C”)
The second hard material known to mankind, second only to diamonds, you will find B4C in the bulletproof plate of the most high-end protective rifle.
Compared with ceramics, B4C is the hardest / strongest, lightest and most expensive.
The characteristic boron carbide armor is characterized in that its bulletproof plate weighs only 5.7 pounds and is tested according to the upcoming NIJ Rf3 certification standard, which can perfectly protect 30-06 m2ap, m855a1 and other high-power bullets.
3.Silicon carbide
Silicon carbide is a little softer than boron carbide, but it is still a superhero in the field of ballistic materials. You often find it in bulletproof plates with medium to high prices. Compared with other ceramics, silicon carbide is characterized by:
Slightly softer than B4C but harder than alumina
Cheaper than B4C and more expensive than alumina
Heavier than B4C but slightly lighter than alumina
The characteristic silicon carbide armor is characterized by:
It adopts silicon carbide core and UHMWPE gasket, which has light weight and high quality.
4. Alumina
Alumina may not be as hard and light as B4C or silicon carbide, but if you insist on working with the good bulletproof clothing manufacturers, you will still find bulletproof clothing made from it very comfortable
Compared with other ceramics, alumina is characterized by:
The softest (but still very hard! The protection ability fully meets the standard, and the chemical composition of alumina is similar to that of the third hard natural substance sapphire)
The cheapest of all materials
Very heavy
Features of alumina armor:
This class 4 Mira armor provides excellent protection against attacks from small pistols to combat rifles and ordinary rifle platforms such as AR-15, AK47 and M4 Bullets.
5.Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (also known as “UHMWPE”, “polyethylene”, “polyethylene”)
UHMWPE is a tough thermoplastic with five times the strength of steel. It is used for soft and hard armor and helmets
Polyethylene is famous in ballistic armor because it can withstand multiple attacks and is extremely light.
Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene is often used in class IV armor
Polyethylene is a common backing material for ceramic rifle plates. Because of its strength and the ability to further dissipate impact, it can better protect the wearer.
6.Layered polymer composite fiber
Another common material in class IV armor is layered woven synthetic fiber similar to aramid.
Aramid fiber has very high tensile strength and is very light. They are the main Anti Ballistic components in soft armor (up to class IIIA), but they are not tough enough to deal with rifle threat. This is why they are another common support material in hard armor plates, rather than the main baffle material.
IS IT LEGAL TO OWN LEVEL IV BODY ARMOR?
Yes, it is legal. For example, in the United States, the federal law stipulates that it is legal for civilians to buy and wear class IV armor, but they must meet the following conditions:
First of all, you have to meet the age of 18 or above
Secondly, you are not a felon and have no serious criminal record.
Finally, you cannot commit a crime in a bulletproof vest (in which case the vest itself will be considered a separate crime)
States in the United States that allow the wearing of bulletproof vests. In the state where you live, it is completely legal to master the legal status of bulletproof vests at any time and plan to wear bulletproof vests.
What is the difference between class III, class III + and class IV bulletproof vests?
The essential difference is what level of bullet it can resist.
Class IV bulletproof vest is the only one tested to prevent. 30cal steel core armor piercing rifle ammunition.
Remember, in order to achieve this threat level, a plate is required to prevent one impact of the 7.62 mm AP (black tip). This means that it is not necessarily better than level 3.
Class III armor has been tested to prevent six interval hits of 7.62mm FMJ lead rifle ammunition.
Level 3 + is not the official rating of NIJ, but it is used by bulletproof clothing manufacturers for ballistic equipment, which can handle everything that level 3 can handle and special threats outside Level 3, especially M855 (green prompt) and m193.
If you plan to buy and wear armor, you’d better learn more about what the different protection levels of NIJ mean, so that you can determine your most likely threat and choose the appropriate armor level for it, whether soft vest or carrier vest
WHY ISN’T THERE LEVEL V BODY ARMOR AND WILL THERE EVER BE ONE?
Weight is the main obstacle. As a bulletproof vest, it should not be too heavy, otherwise it will affect the wearer’s use experience.
Remember, the role of body armor is not just to stop ballistic missiles. It must also disperse the force of impact energy so that blunt trauma will not kill the wearer, rather than protect all bullet impacts.
The impact you receive from. 50bmg (Brownie machine gun) and larger caliber bullets is so great that no wearable bulletproof vest can stop it. The armor will be so heavy that you can’t move with it and become a target.
Will there be level 5 ballistic protection? We can’t predict this, but I believe there will be. But in the near future.
Do you need level 4 bulletproof vests?
If armor piercing projectile is a very real potential threat, yes, the only armor that can withstand such a huge impact is NIJ IV. Law enforcement personnel dealing with active shooters or military personnel on tactical missions should preferably use level 4 armor. If you are a very serious preparatory student, no matter what happens, level 4 is a good protection.
But it’s not the best armor for everyone. For correctional officers or regular police on duty, no, level 4 is not really necessary. Most of the time, what you need is mobility, rather than reaching level IIIA soft armor, which is your best choice.
Where’s the hunter? Level 3 hard armor plate can prevent the most common hunting threats, so it’s not necessary. We won’t recommend you to use level 4.
Other civilians? Unless you shoot with your own steel core ammunition, we have a set of good equipment, and the protection level is more in line with your needs. Think according to the idea of class II or IIIA bulletproof vest.
What level are you considering yourself? Please leave us a message below!
