Don’t Be Penetrated, Don’t Be Killed.
The Combat Suitability Onion
The average National Institute of Justice (NIJ) Level III rated armor plate insert weighs 4-5lbs, protecting the wearer against handgun caliber threats. For rifle caliber threats, this can increase to 6-8lbs depending on cut, size, and level of desired protection. These plates are traditionally made of hardened steel (AR500/550) – which carry with them the risk of fragmentation and spalling – or ceramic carbides – which are expensive and difficult to manufacture. All plates are trying to answer the same problem:
“How do I stop the kilojoule of energy in this bullet and dissipate it, hopefully more than once, without wounding the person behind it?”
We’re attempting to answer that question through topological engineering and the novel use of carbon fiber composites. As we begun developing this material system for armor applications, we’ve also discovered a host of applications for these types of materials: from load bearing materials for earthquake survivability to lightweighting of automobile components. Our carbon fiber lattices and their composites are going to enable a host of multi-functional material properties previously inaccessible. As it diverges quite significantly from the art and design world – this is a spinoff we’re calling ‘Topologic Composites’, you can follow its development here:
https://www.topocomposites.com/
