Two Types of Ballistic Plates

What is the difference between the two types of ballistic plates?

Knowing the difference between the two kinds of ballistic plates is relevant in determining which of the two is likely suitable to your need. Both plates are used to decelerate the speed of the impact, stop the bullet from penetrating by breaking it down into fragments, and absorbing the impact that may cause injury or blunt force trauma to the wearer.

What are the two kinds of ballistic plates?

Generally, they are differentiated as “Stand-Alone” and “Insert Plates.”

Stand Alone Plates are made from ceramic or polyethylene, designed to capture projectiles from high-powered handguns and rifles. Stand alone, from the term itself, the plates doesn’t need soft armor vest to capture any fragments from bullets. However, bear in mind that without a vest, the wearer could experience blunt force trauma since there is nothing to cushion him from the projectile impact.  

Insert plates on the other hand are designed to be in conjunction with a soft ballistic vest which must be NIJ certified level IIIA. These plates are generally made from two materials; ceramic and polyethylene. Ceramic plate is made by compressing and firing alumina ceramic powders and formed into a monolithic tile. After firing, it will undergo a process by adding composite GRP or aramid backing that will emit the structural strength and multi hit capability of the ballistic plates.

These plates are formed into varying thickness so that it can provide protection from different kinds of high caliber guns and other armor piercing ammunition. An example of the ammunition is 7.62 x 63mm caliber. It can withstand even a multi-strike ballistic impact.

Polyethylene plates are also made from polyethylene materials and compressed into a solid plate. The thickness is similar to that or thicker than the stand alone plates. It can provide protection up to 7.62 mm NATO ball soft ammunition. The polyethylene plates are lighter that their ceramic counterpart and are definitely more expensive as well.

Now that you know the difference between the two body armor plates, simply figure out what possible situation and degree of threat you’re vulnerable to experience.

SAPI Ballistic Plates – Advance Armor

What are SAPI ballistic plates?

SAPI (Small Arms Protective Inserts) ballistic plates are made from the latest composite materials consists of ballistic nylon spall cover, ceramic tiles, boron carbide, Kevlar or Spectra and other reinforced plastic material.

How do SAPI ballistic plates work?

Once the bullet hits the vest, the ceramic fractures the core of the projectile. The energy of the impact is absorbed by the tiles or ballistic plates and the residual energy is absorbed by the backing. The backing materials are determined by ballistic, structural and weight requirements. Examples are Kevlar composites, fiberglass, Spectra and aluminum.

For rifle and some armor piercing rounds, manufacturers have made innovations and uses advance armor ballistic plates using ultra-light weight Spectra shield with ceramics. It only weighs about four pounds. These plates are inserted into the pockets of your ballistic vest.

How are SAPI ballistic plates made?

Layers of ceramic are bonded together to a hard panel made of multiple layers of Spectra shield. After which, these layers are then wrapped with a special kind of fabric covering.

SAPI ballistic plates are designed to stop rounds of 7.62mm and AK-47. As the bullet hits the plates, the hard ceramic inserted in the pockets of the vest will then break up the bullet while the spectra shield will absorbed the energy of the penetration. The bullets continue to break into pieces while the spectra extract the energy of the impact and decelerating the speed at the same time catching the fragments of the projectile. With this process, the possible blunt force trauma that the wearer is supposed to experience is substantially reduced.

That is how simple the process goes in resisting bullet penetration and hampering major effects or injuries caused by the strong impact of the projectile. Ergo, if you want rigid protection, get yourself ballistic armor plates today.