Manufacturers have gotten more innovative in the last few years with trying out different materials for creating bulletproof products. Bulletproof vests and other ballistic-rated materials can be created from different kinds of materials. While new researchers are showing the possible ballistic power of strange objects like coconut shaft, diamond, and scales, there are a few materials that have stood out as the top tier for standing and stopping a bullet.

• Polyethylene

Ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene is a plastic that can be found in Tupperware. The ballistic material is remarkably reliable and affordable. Some reports even show that this inexpensive plastic is better than Kevlar at stopping certain bullets because it’s impervious to moisture.

• Steel

Steel bulletproof materials are heavy-duty, yet at just a few millimeters thick, extremely effective in stopping modern firearm rounds. The steel deforms under the stresses from the bullet’s energy but prevents the rounds from reaching their intended targets.

• Kevlar

Perhaps one of the better-known bulletproof materials, Kevlar is a synthetic fiber that’s heat resistant and incredibly strong. It’s also lightweight, making it a popular choice for wearable bulletproof items. Kevlar is used in both military and civilian applications.

• Ceramic

As a material made from clay heated to extremely high temperatures, ceramic sits just below diamonds on the hardness scale, far above the metal used for bullet making. When layered with Kevlar, ceramic can effectively dissipate the energy from rounds of all sizes. When impacted, the ceramic layers disintegrate into a powder under the bullets’ forces.

• Fiberglass

When at the appropriate thickness, fiberglass can easily deflect bullets by absorbing the energy through its layers. When placed between steel plates, this ultra-lightweight material effectively distorts the rounds and delaminates to capture the bullets within the structure.

• Polycarbonate

The final bulletproof material on our list is Polycarbonate, a strong, transparent material that is used to make glass ballistic resistant.

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