Thai researchers have succeeded increasing body armour that is cheaper than the imported variety and lighter than the ones currently used by police and soldiers.
“The high-quality bulletproof vests cost around Bt30,000 each, about Bt10,000 to Bt20,000 cheaper than the imported ones. They weigh only 10 kilograms, 2kg lighter than the steel ones currently used by the police and soldiers,” Plilin Chuchottaworn, managing director of PTT Polymer Marketing, said yesterday during a press conference to launch the armour.
The body armour was designed in collaboration with researchers at Mahidol University’s Faculty of Science and the National Metal and Materials Technology Centre. PTT Polymer, a PTT Group company, provided financial support of Bt5.5 million and material-InnoPlus HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) – to produce the first 100 vests.
The bulletproof vests pass US National Institute of Justice Level III tests, which are able to protect against 7.62 mm, M16 and rifle bullets, The quality was tested by the quartermaster of the police force.
The armour has been designed specially to fit Thai bodies and consists of two main parts: alumina mosaic created by MTEC’s researchers which is used to stop bullets, and polymer composites created by the university’s Faculty of Science, used to dissipate the force of the blow against nearby muscle and bone.
Assoc. Professor Taweechai Amornsakchai, one of the researchers involved in making the equipment, said the vests could endure more humidity and sunlight than imported ones made from Kevlar.
“These will be offered to police and soldiers working in risky areas, particularly in the South. The officers there are facing a shortage of body armour. We expect to finish producing all the vests by August,”said Prasert Bunsumpun, president of PTT.
“We use materials produced in Thailand. This is our first generation. We’ll try to develop the next generation of bulletproof vests made from polymer which will be even lighter, weighing only six kilograms,”said Professor Skon Mongkosuk, the faculty’s dean.
# # #
Source: The Nation (30 January 2009)
ไม่มีความคิดเห็น:
แสดงความคิดเห็น