Lightweight Ballistic Composites: Military and Law-Enforcement Applications (Woodhead Publishing Series in Composites Science and Engineering) 1st Edition

The advent of fire arms spelt the end of the armored knight of old. Until very recently the soldier on the battlefield had no protection from being shot. The problem is that the only materials that would offer suitable protection was steel, and steel is so heavy that it is impractical to protect more than a small part of the body. Usually only the head was protected using helmets that offered some protection from the fragments of shrapnel of grenades and exploding artillery.Beginning with the war in Viet Nam, the Army began fielding 'bullet proof vests' made of woven materials that extended protection to the torso of the soldier. These vests were capable of withstanding handgun fire and most shrapnel.Since that time other new materials have been invented and they, along with their applications are the subject of this book. It is written by a selection of experts in the field. About half the authors are from the US and include writers from the military, industry, and research groups. The remailing authors are from literally around the world.Most of the book is on the new materials themselves. But the latter parts are on specific applications including material on the new vehicles and equipment that has been introduced or which is still in the planning stages.This is the first book to provide a comprehensive review of the materials used in modern armored systems. Not only does it cover the woven fabrics, but it also included material on things like ceramic faced molded armor.This is the state of the art in armor as it exhists today.