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'{{short description|Thick, tough, nylon fabric}} {{one source|date=April 2013}} [[File:Flakjacketparts.png|thumb|[[Flak jacket]]s were originally made out of ballistic nylon in [[World War II]] to protect airmen from shrapnel]] '''Ballistic nylon''' is a thick, tough, [[nylon]] [[Cloth|fabric]] with several uses. Ballistic nylon was developed by the [[DuPont]] corporation as a material for [[flak jacket]]s for [[World War II]] airmen. It was called ''ballistic'' because, together with other components,<!--steel plates! --> it was intended to protect its wearers from flying debris and [[Fragmentation (weaponry)|fragmentation]] from [[bullet]] and [[Shell (projectile)|artillery-shell]] impacts.<!-- See [[flak jacket]]: "It is not designed to protect against bullets" --> == Description == The original specification for ballistic nylon was an {{convert|18|oz|abbr=on}} ([[Ounce#Fabric weight|ounce]]) nylon fabric made from 1050 [[Units of textile measurement#Denier|denier]] high tenacity nylon yarn in a 2×2 [[basketweave]]. Today it may be any nylon fabric made with a "ballistic weave", typically a 2×2 or 2×3 basketweave. It can be woven from nylon yarns of various denier such as 840 denier and 1680 denier. == Origin == Ballistic nylon was originally developed by Dupont for flak jackets for World War II airmen. Used either with metal or fiberglass ([[Doron plate|Doron]]) inserts or as multiple layers of laminated nylon<ref>{{Cite web |last=Beyer |first=James C. |last2=Enos |first2=William F. |last3=Holmes |first3=Robert H. |title=Personnel Protective Armor |url=https://achh.army.mil/history/book-wwii-woundblstcs-chapter11/ |access-date=2024-09-03 |website=AMEDD Center of History & Heritage |at=Chapter XI |language=en}}</ref> it was intended to protect the airmen from flying debris and fragmentation from by bullet and artillery-shell impacts. It has generally been superseded by [[Kevlar]] and other fabrics. == Modern uses == [[File:4-ring NATO style watchstrap.JPG|thumb|right|[[Diving watch]] on a four-ring [[NATO strap]] made of ballistic nylon.<ref>[http://www.dstan.mod.uk/standards/defstans/66/047/00000200.pdf NATO wrist watch strap requirements by the UK MOD] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110617052936/http://www.dstan.mod.uk/standards/defstans/66/047/00000200.pdf |date=2011-06-17 }}</ref>]] Although ballistic nylon was originally created and used in flak jackets, its durability and cutting resistance have made it useful for non-combat applications. It can be found in backpacks, luggage, belts and straps, motorcycle jackets, watch bands, and knife sheaths. It can also be used for structural purposes, such as on skin-on-frame [[kayak]]s. Ballistic nylon is used in [[chainsaw]] protective [[chaps]] covering the fronts of the chainsaw operator's legs. Such chaps are usually made with an outer layer of a tough smooth fabric like [[nylon]] or other synthetic fiber, with four plies of ballistic nylon inside. When the moving chainsaw chain contacts the chaps and tears the external layer, the inner plies shred. The strength of the ballistic nylon fiber will generally stop the moving chain quickly by causing the drive [[clutch]] to slip. As a result, the operator is relatively or completely uninjured. As it is difficult to dye, ballistic nylon is usually black or another dark color. ==See also== * [[Cordura]] * [[Ripstop nylon]] ==References== {{Reflist}} {{fabric}} {{Types of armour}} [[Category:Body armor]] [[Category:Woven fabrics]]'