| At less
than 37 percent the weight of steel armor, the Battelle material
alone is capable of stopping multiple armor piercing projectiles
exceeding a 7.62mm threat as a stand-alone component. When combined
with Protected Vehicles, Inc. armoring methodologies, the complete
system is capable of stopping threats from 50-caliber armor-piercing
shells without the weight associated with conventional metal
or ceramic armor.
Based on advanced materials development program at Battelle,
PVI and Battelle joined forces to create a composite armor encompassing
ceramics, metals, reinforcing and patented binders that provide
exceptional protection against threats from powerful EFP explosions.
 One
of the elements composing the new ShieldAll is Battelle’s
FlexAll™
hyperplastic material which can absorb high energy impacts without
permanent deformation. A FlexAll module will crumple on impact
to absorb an incoming force but return to its original shape
within minutes. During a series of tests, race cars were driven
into honeycomb-like columns mad of FlexAll material, at speeds
up to 60 mph. The energy-absorbing structure behaved identically
crash after crash, absorbing 92 percent of an impact’s
energy each time.
According to PVI, this new armor solution is based on readily
available components and ongoing involvement from a tier one
polymer manufacturer. ShieldAll™ is available immediately
for large-scale production ramp up.
Although originally developed for use on PVI’s Golan,
Alpha and
Protector line of vehicles, ShieldAll utilizes a versatile design
which allows it to be used as an up-armor kit on an assortment
of other combat vehicles currently being developed and already
in the operating theater.
In addition, Battelle considered personal armor applications
for the new material, giving soldiers in the field more mobility
while allowing equal or better protection to current body armor.
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