DuPont and Hohenstein launch new testing protocols for body armor comfort

Image: DuPont

DuPont announced the launch of three new testing protocols for evaluating the comfort and mobility of soft ballistic body armor. The testing protocols were developed in collaboration with Hohenstein, a German-based textile research and testing institute. The tests are designed to simulate real-world movements and situations to identify discomfort levels and mobility constraints faced by law enforcement and military personnel

“Maximizing comfort and flexibility in soft ballistic solutions is essential to address the critical needs of law enforcement and military personnel,” says Christophe Djololian, global market development leader at DuPont. “By taking into account body movement and specific end-use scenarios, we have developed solutions that more objectively evaluate discomfort and mobility constraints from the wearer’s perspective.”

The three comfort and mobility tests include:

Lower Costal Bending Test simulates upper body bending motions common in active duty, and measures energy loss due to armor stiffness, which can lead to accelerated fatigue in the field.
Double Curvature Compression Test replicates a bent torso to assess how well ballistic materials conform to the body’s complex curves.
Edge Pressure Test evaluates localized pressure points at the vest edges, such as the lower abdomen, neck and arms, which are often causes of discomfort.

These test methods were developed in collaboration with Hohenstein, a German-based research institute with strong expertise in textile testing and ergonomics.

“It is our intent to drive the industry to more comfortable body armor to improve the performance and protection of military and law enforcement personnel. With these new comfort and mobility test protocols developed with Hohenstein, we can now quantify and standardize flexibility in body armor, so protection and comfort go hand in hand. As we design new, more flexible materials such as Kevlar® EXO fabrics and structures, a wide range of highly optimized solutions for the greater benefit of end-users is now possible,” says Steven LaGanke, global segment leader at DuPont.