Fabric Uses Cutting-edge Defeat Mechanism to Turn High-Powered Rifle Rounds into Shrapnel.
Stamford, CT – -(AmmoLand.com)- Echelon Materials today announced the launch of their Indiegogo campaign to fund the production of their proprietary loom required to produce TiTek, the world’s first and only patented, lightweight, flexible fabric designed to shred high-powered conical/rifle rounds and be comfortably worn or carried all day.
With today’s increasing threats of high-powered rifles, and with heavy, rigid and uncomfortable armor as the norm, TiTek is finally the protection those in Law Enforcement deserve. The Indiegogo campaign has a funding goal of $825,000.00 USD which will go towards the manufacturing of the only loom able to mass produce the TiTek fabric for the marketplace. Supporters of the campaign will be able to claim a vest, shield and/or backpack infused with TiTek fabric as a reward.
TiTek’s defeat mechanism is cutting-edge – it’s a patented fabric that weaves tiny, sharp-edged titanium discs into the plane of the fabric using the very kevlar threads that comprise the fabric. These discs present their sharp edges to the incoming round and cut it to shreds as it passes. Once shredded by the TiTek fabric, debris from bullets is easily captured by the armor package’s backing layers that employ existing materials, such as aramids or polyethylenes. Compared to traditional armor that “stops” the bullet by applying counter-force, TiTek-infused armor uses the bullet’s own energy to cut it apart, destroying it and making it easier to stop.
Heavy, inflexible ceramic plates can dig into an officer’s back, sink into their femoral arteries, or choke their throat. TiTek is flexible, and conforms to a body that needs to move, making it the perfect choice for both male and female officers, to not only protect, but also allow for a greater range of motion, coverage area and comfort for long-term use.
“In testing the TiTek material, we have seen 7.62 M80 rounds turned into shrapnel – not a piece over the size of a 17-caliber BB – with bits and pieces spread over a 9-inch diameter in an armor pack weighing 1.9 lbs. per square foot,” said Bob Muller, Echelon Materials’ CEO.
“This means that lightweight, flexible, breathable, rifle protection weighing up to 75% less than current Level IV+ plates is possible with TiTek, making that protection easier and more comfortable to wear,” added Muller.
To become a supporter of the “TiTek Revolution”, visit Echelon’s Indiegogo fundraising site at igg.me/at/echelon-materials,, or for more information about, visit www.echelonmaterials.com/.
About Echelon Materials
Echelon Materials has developed a new, patented fabric (U.S. Patent 7,100,490) with applications within the ballistic armoring industry. For more information, visit https://www.echelonmaterials.com/.
Now that I’ve responded to the comments, let me say that they all were really good questions and points.
And that I apologize for any typos made in my haste to respond.
And that I look forward to continuing the discussion.
Thanks
By the video above they sound like another ANTI-GUN company that wants the gun community to fund their project….Barring .22 & under what rifle is not a Hight powered round? Their wording says it all!
This is NOT about guns, folks. It is about troops, Law Enforcement and first responders. Wars happen. Bad guys do bad things. Guns exist. And sometimes they are improperly used. It is when that happens we come into play.
I can assure you we are not an anti-gun company. No one has the right to dictate to others the manner of self-defense. No one. And even the NRA says people who are concerned about guns should have body armor.
We are not asking the gun community to fund us. We are asking for the guys who run into gunfire to.
And, I am a bit confused about your .22 & under comment; we are talking 7.62 and up!
Looks like Computer Core Memory module CIRCA 1960’s.
Looks good on paper and video, hope they can make it happen.
Easier to stop smaller fragments then one solid round.
Lightweight LIV armor would be very much appreciated. However, until I see a demonstrable product, that can be produced in quantity at a reasonable cost, this is more vaporware.
Notalima,
Agree 100 %. I’ve been in the body armor business a long time and this appears to be another “Dragon Skin”. The problem with any type of armor that relies on individual or segmented pieces as a strike face, is the fact that bullets can be very “sneaky’ and a tungsten penetrater bullet core can be the sneakiest of all. Titanium is very light for strength but it is not harder than tungsten.
I pegged the problems with Dragon Skin decades ago.
ANd, yes, rounds can be very sneaky. Indeed, my recollection of bullts dancing on hard shields until the found the weak point was part of the geneisis of TiTek.
And, no, TiTek is not relying on any “strike face” in the conventional sense. As for “hardness”, you are looking at the incorrect property. First, think Think UTS and then realize all rounds need to have something to protect the gun barrel.
Notalima: I invite you to watch the videos on our site, the one with a 7.62 thru a standard Level III construct and the other with a thinner package than that but containing TiTek. Note the bullet and the fibers disruptions. And see James comment above. He is quite correct.
As for quantity at a reasonable cost: That’s exactly what the loom does for us all.
If it is a viable product they shouldn’t have problems finding investors.
Sounds like give me money and then we well see if it works.
It’s more likely they don’t want to lose control over the company to investors who will not invest in further innovation. Sadly most investors buy plug an play innovation and milk it until it’s dry and them moth ball it. The founders become slaves to the company to protect their investment until they retire. It’s the reason why we still shoot 1911’s made by robots and use old 1960’s tech in our state of the art cars and televisions.. Crowd funding has led to more innovation in the last ten years, it’s amazing IMO.
Duane:
Sorry to have given you the wrong impression. The message was supposed to have been “Give us money so we can save your life!”
We know it works.
I guess it’s protection that only those in law enforcement deserve, eh?
Greyman:
No sir.
Soldiers. Firemen. EMTs.
And Kids. And Teachers.
Is the company a closed corporation or open market?
Not sure what you are asking.
Why the Crowd Funding? Can’t they find investors, willing to give them $? Seems like an easy way to gather funds for a questionable product.
This is the equivalent of NIMBY. We have raised funds thru investors, and continue to look for such.
Does not mean we should overlook crowdfunding.
And, the fact we have not should not be considered a failure in other arenas.
(Stay tuned for updates……shortly.)
Who’s making the loom? Who’s doing the warp work? This tech looks good on paper but till I see
The details of how you intend to make it it’s like drawing up a warp drive without a power source.
Ah, someone who knows a bit about weaving!!
The problem is we can’t publish those details without losing our patent protections.
I would like to point out this: There are several pictures of actual TiTek – as well as a video of it – on the site. Proof enough we know how to make it. We’re talkinng scaling it upward to meet the market.
Now, if you have the ability and desire to take us up on the “Name Your Perk” perk, we can discuss those details.