Editing Bulletproof vest (section)

===Graphene composite===
In late 2014, researchers began studying and testing [[graphene]] as a material for use in body armor. Graphene is manufactured from carbon and is the thinnest, strongest, and most conductive material on the planet. Taking the form of hexagonally arranged atoms, its tensile strength is known to be 200 times greater than steel, but studies from [[Rice University]] have revealed it is also 10 times better than steel at dissipating energy, an ability that had previously not been thoroughly explored. To test its properties, the [[University of Massachusetts]] stacked together graphene sheets only a single carbon atom thick, creating layers ranging in thickness from 10 nanometers to 100 nanometers from 300 layers. Microscopic spherical [[silica]] "bullets" were fired at the sheets at speeds of up to 3&nbsp;km (1.9&nbsp;mi) per second, almost nine times the speed of sound.  Upon impact, the projectiles deformed into a cone shape around the graphene before ultimately breaking through. In the three nanoseconds it held together however, the transferred energy traveled through the material at a speed of 22.2&nbsp;km (13.8&nbsp;mi) per second, faster than any other known material. If the impact stress can be spread out over a large enough area that the cone moves out at an appreciable velocity compared with the velocity of the projectile, stress will not be localized under where it hit. Although a wide impact hole opened up, a composite mixture of graphene and other materials could be made to create a new, revolutionary armor solution.<ref>[http://www.armedforces-int.com/news/worlds-strongest-material-in-body-armour-trials.html World's Strongest Material In Body Armour Trials] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141209084435/http://www.armedforces-int.com/news/worlds-strongest-material-in-body-armour-trials.html |date=2014-12-09 }} – Armedforces-Int.com, 1 December 2014</ref><ref>[http://www.gizmag.com/graphene-bulletproof-armor/35004/ Graphene could find use in lightweight ballistic body armor] – Gizmag.com, 1 December 2014</ref>