I first heard the word “Kevlar” in a movie… RoboCop (۱۹۸۷ ) ( right photo)
The RoboCop’s armored frame was supposedly made out of titanium laminated “Kevlar”.
“Kevlar” is a strong, heat-resistant, lightweight synthetic fiber that delivers high tensile strength that brings improved protection and performance across a range of industries and applications. Developed at DuPont in 1965, was first used commercially in the early 1970s as a replacement for steel in racing tires.
“Kevlar” is typically used in: Glove, Bulletproof vest, Jacket, Sleeve, Chaps, Combat helmet, Ballistic face mask, and Cycle tires.
The 2014 RoboCop’s armor (left photo) is made from “Graphene”, an allotrope of carbon consisting of a single layer of atoms arranged in a hexagonal lattice nanostructure. It is typically 200 times stronger than ordinary steel but it is also 6 times lighter than steel and if it could be mass produced would be perfect for body armor.
PS 1 The 1987 RoboCop’s armor weighted 36 Kg and actor Peter Weller supposedly lost almost 1 Kg per day lugging it about the set. A new Weight loss system perhaps?
PS 2 In 2004, Graphene was properly isolated and characterized at the University of Manchester by Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov. In 2010, Geim and Novoselov were awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics.
