These test methods were developed in collaboration with Hohenstein, a German-based research institute with strong expertise in textile testing and ergonomics.

“It is in the DNA of Hohenstein to get as close as possible to the user’s reality,” said Dr. Jan Beringer, Senior Scientific Expert at Hohenstein. “With dedicated wear trials, possible discomfort and movement restrictions were determined. Then, leveraging decades of expertise, tests and equipment were designed to simulate the wearer’s experience in close collaboration between DuPont and Hohenstein.”

“It is our intent to drive the industry to more comfortable body armor to improve the performance and protection of military and law enforcement personnel. With these new comfort and mobility test protocols developed with Hohenstein, we can now quantify and standardize flexibility in body armor so protection and comfort go hand in hand. As we design new, more flexible materials such as Kevlar® EXO™ fabrics and structures, a wide range of highly optimized solutions for the greater benefit of end-users is now possible,” said DuPont Global Segment Leader, Steven LaGanke.

How to access the new testing protocols?

The three test methods to characterize comfort & mobility constraints for soft ballistic applications are available on the Hohenstein website here.