Researchers from Harvard University in collaboration with West Point and the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center (CCDC SC) have combined the properties of two different types of Kevlar material to create a nanofiber capable of protecting against both extreme temperatures and high-speed ballistics.

Using an immersion rotary jet spinning technique — wherein a liquid polymer solution is injected into a reservoir and forced through a small outlet via centrifugal force from the spinning of the device, passing through open air, where it elongates and the chains align to form solid fibers — researchers combined the properties of woven Kevlar and porous Kevlar aerogels to arrive at the nanofiber that can withstand both extreme temps and ballistics.

Source: Grant Gonzalez/Harvard SEAS

Woven Kevlar, which can protect against bullets and shrapnel, and porous Kevlar aerogels, which can withstand high temperatures, were combined to create a network of long, continuous fibers with space in between the continuous fibers. According to researchers, the long fibers create an aligned molecular structure that distributes the energy from an impact whereas the porous spaces in between serve to diffuse heat.

During testing, the teams determined that the new nanofiber material simultaneously withstood simulated ballistic projectiles and offered 20 times the heat insulation of currently available materials, according to researchers.

The material is being eyed for future protective gear worn by soldiers and astronauts and the research is detailed in the journal Matter.