Body armor

Body armor refers to protective clothing or close-fitting, hands-free shields designed to protect the human body. Its primary function is to absorb or deflect physical attacks. While historically used by military personnel, modern armor is used by various groups. These include riot police, private security guards, and bodyguards. Occasionally, ordinary citizens also use it for protection.

Today, armor is generally divided into two main categories. The first is regular, non-plated body armor, which provides moderate to substantial protection. The second is hard-plate reinforced body armor, designed for maximum protection during combat.

Modern armor functions through specific material interactions with incoming projectiles. Hard-plate armor often utilizes ceramic materials to manage high-velocity impacts. One common material is boron carbide, which was first used in the 1960s for bulletproof vests and gunship seats. This ceramic is very hard and rigid. When a projectile strikes the ceramic face, the material shatters, turns, or erodes the projectile.

To optimize resistance, these plates are often structured with a Kevlar layer on one side and a nylon spall shield on the other. Other ceramics like alumina or silicon carbide are also used to protect against specific threats like tungsten carbide penetrators.

Throughout history, armor development has been driven by economic and technological needs. In medieval Europe, the production of full plate armor became faster and cheaper due to water-powered trip hammers. Armorers constantly worked to balance protection with mobility as weaponry improved. In ancient Sumer, the first records of body armor were found on the Stele of Vultures. Around 1400 BC, the Mycenaean Era featured the Dendra panoply, an early example of heavy plate armor.

In East Asia, armor traditions included laminated styles like lamellar and brigandine. In the Korean Gaya Confederacy from 42 CE to 562 CE, warriors used iron plate armor. These sets consisted of 27 or more thick, curved plates secured by nails or hinges.

Metalwork evolved significantly during the Middle Ages. The European Celts are believed to have invented mail, or chainmail, around 500 BC. This armor consists of interlocking iron rings that are often riveted or welded shut. By the late 13th century, armorers added iron discs called besagews to protect the underarms. The coat of plates was another development, featuring large plates sewn inside textile or leather.

By the 15th century, plate armor became more affordable than mail because it required less labor. This shift occurred after the Black Death made labor more expensive. During this time, the full harness of plate armor was perfected in the armories of Lombardy.

For nearly 400 years, firearms and plate armor existed in a cycle of "threat and remedy." As small guns and powerful crossbows emerged, armorers responded with more advanced steel. In the 15th century, Italian plates were almost always made of steel. By the late 16th century, armor had become much thicker and heavier to provide resistance. In the 14th and 15th centuries, armor rarely weighed more than 25 kilograms. However, by the late 16th century, the weight had increased significantly.

Some breastplates were so strong they could stop bullets fired from a modest distance. Makers would even perform a "proof" by shooting the plate and engraving the impact point.

As gunpowder technology improved, the cost of training unarmored infantry became lower than maintaining expensive armored knights. This led to the gradual abandonment of heavy armor by most units. However, some heavy cavalry, such as the French cuirassiers, continued to use it.

During the American Civil War, some soldiers used iron or steel vests purchased from peddlers. The effectiveness of these vests varied, and many soldiers rejected them because of their heavy weight. During World War I, the Germans produced approximately 400,000 Sappenpanzer suits. These were heavy and restrictive, so they were mostly used by stationary troops like sentries or machine gunners.

Armor remains a vital part of modern safety and specialized industries. While military and police use high-tech plates, other sectors use simpler metal protection. For example, chain mail gloves are still used by butchers to prevent cuts while processing carcasses. The evolution from ancient iron rings to modern boron carbide demonstrates a continuous human effort to improve physical defense. The field of armor continues to change as new materials and projectile technologies emerge.