Most protective gear, such as soft vests and plates, deteriorate after a certain time period.
Body armor comes with almost 5 to 10 years of expiration age from the time it manufactures. However, in some instances, body armor works perfectly even after being expired but such armors are not reliable. Protective vests can provide maximum protection for a particular time and when the life span of the gear ends, they are considered expired. These products contain chemical elements such as Kevlar, composite, and other chemicals, which may decay with time.
Other than striking a shelf-life there are other factors that speed up the process of expiration.
Excessive Temperature and Ultraviolet (UV) Light
It is always suggested to keep your
full body armor, bulletproof vest, and bulletproof helmets away from the heat and sunlight. The material used in body armors has a tendency to absorb ultraviolet light. These destructive UV rays are very damaging to the protective gear. As per research, UV rays can also be an active determinant that decreases the counterlife of the body armor. Extreme heat impacts certain materials, which may induce the armor to disfigure.
Storing
Storing body armor is one of the most essential tasks that need your attention. Never place a bulletproof vest in hangers as it will stretch out the garment and decrease the flexibility of its material. Stretched
armor will not fit the wearer after some time that will result in deterioration of the protective gear. If you do not store the armor properly, it can cause moisture to build up which will result in damaging the material completely.
User's Weight Gain or Weight Loss
Armors are made with the intention to fit the wearer completely to protect their body, the change in even a little bit of weight can alter the fitting of your bulletproof vest. The plates and panels of the body armor usually snuggle the wearer, by losing weight these plates can sway around, making the situation very uncomfortable for the user. If these plates keep colliding with each other they will ultimately be crushed in no time.
Moisture
Body armors are being worn by the officials who struggle to survive in a damp environment. The humidity usually increases during snow or rain. If your
medieval shield is constantly exposed to such an environment then its life span will dwindle. Wearing protective gear in a humid location will make the degradation process quicker, resulting in your bulletproof vest expiring before the given time.
Damage in Internal Composition
A bulletproof corset is composed of several parts, which include plates, metals, panels, tough fabrics Kevlar, and other chemicals. With constant use, the internal parts of the armor bend, warp and even crack sometimes. This internal destruction can kill anyone with just one bullet shot as the body armor will not be able to provide protection. Such body armors don't look damaged externally but the user can definitely feel the change after continuous use.
Wrapping Up
Everything comes with an expiry date whether it is a
Larp shield or a functional body armor. Usually, the shelf-life of a bulletproof vest is 5 to 10 years, however, there are some other determinants that can induce the deterioration early. We have addressed some of the factors that can affect the expiration life of body armor. Hopefully, this information will enhance your knowledge and you will enjoy a long time with your body armor.
