Bulletproof Test!

The next afternoon, the testing center indeed received over a dozen boxes of goods.

Han Chang opened the cardboard boxes and saw the bulletproof fibers Gao Yuan had mentioned on the phone.

There were two models in total: bulletproof and cushioning. They were placed in separate boxes, and each box also contained instruction manuals detailing their performance characteristics.

As the names suggested, the cushioning fiber was like a sponge, used to slow down the impact of bullets. The bulletproof fiber was thin yet tough, possessing strong tensile and high-temperature resistance, making it impossible for bullets to penetrate.

By layering these two types of fibers, one could prevent bullet penetration while simultaneously mitigating the impact, forming a complete set of lightweight bulletproof equipment.

As for heavy-duty bulletproof equipment, it required inserting hard plates into the front and back of the bulletproof vest. These plates could be made of metal or ceramic, with many varieties – at least a dozen types.

There was once a video circulating on the Internet of an American guy, full of bravado, who bought a cheap Chinese-made Level 4 insert plate for a hundred dollars. The material was aluminum oxide, ceramic, and polyethylene. He took it to a shooting range and gave it a beating.

At the start of the video, the guy looked down on the Chinese product, given its low price, expecting it to be ruined after just a couple of shots.

However, after firing his AK and Mosin-Nagant, the insert plate remained solid. The hot-headed guy was astonished. He never expected that a cheap product from China would be so durable!

So, he pressed on, firing two magazines from a nine-millimeter handgun alone. After all that torment, the insert plate was still holding strong, as if it had cheated.

At the end of the video, the hot-headed guy was completely speechless. He kept scratching his head, looking utterly bewildered, which was quite amusing.

This demonstrated that China's manufacturing level for bulletproof insert plates was quite respectable.

However, soft bulletproof vests made of fiber were different, requiring higher technical standards and posing greater challenges.

Globally, there were only two types of fibers used to make bulletproof vests: aramid and high molecular weight polyethylene fiber, or PE for short.

As of 2020, China's annual PE production reached an astonishing twenty million tons.

Aramid fiber, on the other hand, was monopolized by three major global manufacturers: North American DuPont, Japanese Teijin, and China's Yantai Taihe New Material.

Of course, when it came to aramid, DuPont was overwhelmingly dominant, holding over fifty percent of the global market share. Teijin and Taihe New Material were mere underdogs compared to them. Despite their best efforts, they could never defeat the invincible DuPont.

We had the raw materials to produce bulletproof vests, which allowed us to hold over seventy percent of the global market share.

China's bulletproof vest sales were indeed substantial, but the claim that Chinese bulletproof vests were invincible and even used by the US military was, of course, impossible.

This was because, according to the Berry Amendment, textiles and certain footwear used by the US military had to be produced domestically.

In conclusion, what truly worried the General Armament Department was not a lack of bulletproof vests, but a lack of top-tier bulletproof products.

Kevlar was essentially aramid, but it incorporated significant technological improvements and a polymer coating on top of aramid fiber, overcoming the problem of UV-accelerated aging.

There was also the widely rumored third-generation bulletproof vest. Currently, all countries were in the confidential research and development phase, but everyone knew that the third-generation bulletproof vest would definitely not be based on aramid, but on PE.

So, the question arose: since we had a PE production capacity of twenty million tons, wouldn't it be easy to make third-generation bulletproof vests?

Actually, it wasn't easy at all, because the third-generation bulletproof vest would definitely not use ordinary PE. Only top-tier polyethylene fibers with ultra-high molecular weight and ultra-high density could shoulder this responsibility.

It was like how the steel cables used on construction sites and the arresting cables on aircraft carriers were both called steel cables, but they were not the same thing.

"Is this Kunlun Company's bulletproof fiber? Can it catch up to Kevlar?"

"It's hard to say. Kevlar is aramid, while this is X Fiber with a super honeycomb structure. Their molecular structures are different."

"It seems very light..."

"If it's this light, its molecular density shouldn't be particularly high, right?"

In the testing center, everyone was discussing animatedly. They all knew that X Fiber was excellent for insulation, but it could also be bulletproof? This was quite unconventional, and they weren't sure.

Han Chang instructed people to sort and categorize the goods and register them.

After the paperwork before the testing was completed, time had already reached 5:30 PM. It was time to get off work and have dinner.

However, no one showed any intention of leaving, their eyes fixed on Han Chang.

Han Chang chuckled and said, "It seems like if we don't test it today, you'll all have insomnia tonight."

"Actually, I'm also quite curious about the fiber's performance. Forget it, let's head straight to the shooting range and conduct a National Standard test!"

Upon hearing this, everyone cheered with joy.

Bulletproof fibers were supposed to go into laboratories for tests on tensile strength, corrosion resistance, heat resistance, and so on.

But those tests were too troublesome and time-consuming, so Han Chang chose a simple and brutal method: direct live-fire testing according to the National Standard.

The National Standard for bulletproof vests had six levels.

GA1 used a Type 64 pistol with lead bullets.

GA2 used a Type 54 pistol with lead bullets.

GA3 used a Type 79 submachine gun with lead bullets.

GA4 used a Type 79 submachine gun with steel bullets.

GA5 used a Type 56 assault rifle with steel bullets.

GA6 used a Type 85 sniper rifle with steel bullets.

From Level 1 to Level 6, if a bulletproof vest could withstand one shot according to the firearm requirements, it would be considered compliant. This testing method, though simple and brutal, was closer to actual combat.

Han Chang stroked his chin and said, "Kunlun Company's bulletproof fiber is quite special, with two types: bulletproof and cushioning. How about this, let's test a 'one plus one' first."

"One plus one" meant one layer of bulletproof fiber plus one layer of cushioning fiber.

The former was tough, while the latter was soft. The former had a thickness of 2.5 millimeters, and the latter had a thickness of 12 millimeters. Together, the total thickness was 14.5 millimeters, very close to the 18 millimeters of domestic Level 3 bulletproof vests.

However, due to X Fiber's unique super honeycomb structure, its weight is far less than traditional Level III body armor. It weighs only 850 grams, while traditional Level III body armor weighs a full 3.3 kilograms.

Bang, bang, bang~

The people at the testing center are all veterans. After the vest was secured, one of them immediately began shooting with a Type 64 pistol.

"Not bad, it didn't even penetrate the first layer?"

"As expected of the famous X Fiber. It might even reach Level III."

"It only weighs 850 grams. If it can really achieve Level III, it's an enormous leap forward."

"Practice is the sole criterion for testing truth. You all retreat quickly, we'll start the second round immediately."

Rustle, rustle~

The people around the target quickly retreated to the safety zone, hiding behind the bulletproof glass. The shooter took two steps forward.

Bang, bang, bang~

Three more gunshots rang out. Everyone rushed to look again.

"Although it dented, the first layer still didn't break!"

"It's strong enough. What are you waiting for? Hurry up and start the third round. If it can withstand a Type 79, that would be truly amazing!"

A moment later, three more gunshots echoed, followed by a huge cheer.

"My goodness, it actually blocked it!?"

"It only weighs 850 grams and can meet Level III standards. How incredibly powerful is that!?"

"Look closely, the Type 79 only just penetrated the first layer. The second layer still has plenty of room!"

Everyone observed carefully. As expected, although the bulletproof layer was breached, the bullet couldn't penetrate further. It encountered the cushioning layer, its kinetic energy dissipated, and it was quickly deflected.

"Could it be that this thing can even withstand Level IV?"

"Just one plus one, and it can combine into Level IV body armor? That sounds a bit like a fairy tale."

"Who cares, we'll know if we try!"

At this moment, everyone was exceptionally excited. They quickly retreated to the safety zone.

The shooter took two more steps forward, raised his gun, and fired.

Bang, bang, bang~

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