Many people are interested in the hardest, high-tech materials. They want to know what will protect them if they ever get into trouble.
According to research, aggregated diamond nanorods (ADNRs) are the hardest known material and are a form of nanocrystalline diamond. Because of their structural factors, ADNRs have been considered harder than natural diamonds. Whereas traditionally and on the Mohs scale, diamonds are taken to be the hardest minerals known, ADNR surpasses them hence being tough to an atomic level.
ADNRs and other materials have specialized applications in use, including but not limited to applications in cutting tools, and coatings on electronic components. However, they are not practical for personal protection.
More commonly, personal armor has utilized materials like titanium, ceramic plates, and graphene, which offer strength and hardness while considering weight factors. ADNR is more difficult and not very practical for flexible, wearable protection since it tends to be brittle and would not serve most personal protection purposes. It may be possible to use this material in future science applications, but right now it is infeasible (unless researchers develop new ways to manipulate the technology).
So, what’s out there right now that you should consider for a helmet or body armor?
Kevlar
Kevlar is one of the most popular options for people looking for a hard material to protect themselves. Helmets made with it are often compatible with the ARC rail headset adapter, making it a highly practical choice for those looking for something strong and lightweight with nice flexibility properties.
While kevlar is popular among conventional armor forms, it is also a regular choice for gloves. This ability to cover smaller areas makes it highly practical in some settings.
Graphene
Graphene is another option. It has a single layer of carbon atoms arranged in a hexagonal shape in a 2D lattice. It’s super strong and lightweight but only has limited applications in armor products because of the challenges in making it. Even so, when engineers add to materials, it tends to make them stronger, even in small amounts. For many, it is more durable than conventional metals.
Ceramic Plates
Ceramic plates are another option. These are often found on vehicle armor and can be useful for protecting against sharp objects moving at high speeds.
What makes them so beneficial is their ability to take the energy out of incoming objects. Ceramic plates receive special engineering that allows them to absorb heavy impacts without passing too much of that energy onto the person wearing them.
Carbon Fibre
Another higher tech material, carbon fibre, is also in heavy use. It’s known for its high tensile strength and low strength-to-stiffness ratio. However, it also has the benefit of being resistant to corrosion, meaning that it won’t start to rust in the field, unlike many metals.
You often see this material in consumer products but it isn’t strong enough to protect against the highest impacts. For that, other materials with denser weaves and stronger links are required for added safety.
