What's it like to add Kevlar to a tactical boot?

When it comes to Kevlar material, it is not only known in the military fan circle (including shallow lovers), but even many friends who have a little knowledge of military culture know its name.

▲ An Armed Russian dragon girl wearing a Kevlar helmet

Especially in recent years, Kevlar is not only popular in the military field, but also has a high rate of appearance in various civilian industries, and has become one of the pronouns of durability. But such an influential material is actually from the hands of a Polish woman born in the United States - known as the "mother of body armor" Stephanie Louise Kwolek!

▲ Foreign comics on Kevlar body armor performance description

Kwolek was born on July 31, 1923, in Pittsburgh, the daughter of Polish immigrants whose father died when she was 10. In 1946, Kwolek graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a degree in chemistry and joined the American chemical giant DuPont.

Graduation photo of Stephanie Louise Kwolek
(1923 -- 2014)

Kwolek invented Kevlar by accident. In 1964, while researching a tire material, Kwolek accidentally synthesized a thin, milky solution that dissolves polymers into a lighter, thinner solution. She and her colleagues put this solution into a spinneret, and finally synthesized a fiber for an artifact!

Kwolek found that this new material has low density, high strength, good toughness, high-temperature resistance, and easy processing and molding, its strength is 5 times that of steel of the same quality, but the density is only one-fifth of steel, with tough and wear-resistant, rigid and soft, and the special ability of invulnerability is highly affirmed and valued by DuPont. He named it "KEVLAR".

Surprisingly, Kwolek, who had no interest in chemistry as a child and wanted to be a doctor, worked at DuPont only to save money to study medicine, and unexpectedly discovered his amazing talent in chemistry and fell in love with the profession. He served for 40 years until his retirement in 1986. She received several awards during her lifetime, including induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 1995.

Ms. Kwolek, who is humble by nature, said in a 2007 interview with the Wilmington, Delaware, News that she was "just starting" and that Kevlar was a product of "a lot more people." When pressed by the media about what it's like to be a top inventor, she laughs: "It's nothing different, just busier."

Kwolek's invention has saved the lives of countless people, only in the United States, since the 1970s saved the lives of more than 3,000 American law enforcement officers, in the world is to save countless people, Kevlar body armor is also famous and sold all over the world, but Kwolek does not want to be satisfied with this, she hopes to use her invention to save more people. She has also worked on science projects for children and has received several awards from the US government.

▲ Kwolek shows his own hand-made Kevlar Gloves

Kwolek dedicated her life to scientific research, so she never married, on the day of her death on June 18, 2014, the Kevlar bulletproof vest just sold the millionth piece, which was sold directly by DuPont, if you count the imitation and improved products produced by companies in other countries and regions, the number must be at least five or six times better. In addition to the field of body armor, Kevlar is also used in other military fields.

▲ Military and police personnel wearing Kevlar body armor

For example, the composite armor of "Kevlar" laminated sheet and steel and aluminum plates has been widely used not only in tanks, armored vehicles, and body armor but also in nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and guided missile destroyers, which greatly improves the protective performance and maneuverability of the above-mentioned weapons. The composite material of Kevlar with ceramics such as boron carbide is ideal for the manufacture of helicopter cockpits and driver's seats. According to tests, its ability to resist armor-piercing bullets is much better than FRP and steel armor.

What needs to be inserted is that some foreign military fans like to compare Kwolek and the "father of the AK-47" Kalashnikov, two people's inventions one offensive, one defensive, and the family has nothing to do with their career after! Moreover, the two men also happen to belong to completely opposite ethnic groups and camps.

▲Kalashnikov, inventor of the AK-47

Of course, the greatest significance of Kwolek's invention of Kevlar is not military but can benefit the people's livelihood, and bring convenience to our lives, the durability of Kevlar fiber, good flexibility, corrosion resistance, and high-temperature characteristics not only used in the manufacture of sports equipment but also by electronic product manufacturers, some mobile phone shell also used this material.

▲ Kevlar mobile phone case

However, most can show the value of Kevlar materials, or wear equipment on the body, in addition to helmets, clothes, and socks on the feet, shoes can also become stronger because of the support of Kevlar materials. Today's SONICE low-top Tactical Shoes are a good example.

▲ Kevlar socks

The SONICE low-top tactical upper is lightweight and durable. The soles are made of Kevlar material, wear-resistant and puncture-resistant, the insole is moist and fresh and has a certain deodorant protection function. It can quickly adapt to complex daily environments, whether you are tactical commuting or daily use, it is your best choice.

1. Kevlar stab-proof midsole

As has been emphasized before, the middle part of the sole uses "Kevlar" anti-puncture material, which has low density, high strength, good toughness, high-temperature resistance, and its strength is 5 times that of the same quality steel

▲ Anti-puncture experiment

Kevlar is a revolutionary product of this era, saving the lives of countless soldiers on the battlefield, and is mainly used in the military for body armor and bulletproof helmets.

2. Breathable and dryness resistant: both inside and outside repair

The inner shoe is lined with sandwich mesh cloth, a hollow three-dimensional structure, excellent ventilation, and moisture so that your feet can breathe freely and dry.

The upper is made of "Cordura" nylon fabric, which has the characteristics of lightweight, quick-drying, soft, strong durability, long-term use is not easy to change color, and the special structure gives it excellent wear resistance and tear resistance.

The main design points of this combat boot in addition to the basic wear resistance, also have a good grip and can increase ankle stability and protect the foot. Suitable for different living environments, such as jungle, desert, city, and outdoor; it Can be said to be a pair of all-terrain combat boots, a shoe multi-purpose, for you to save more costs to buy shoes!