vest plates - coated or non?

[Acolyte]

For ballistic plate inserts for vests, what is the difference between 'coated' and just plain steel?

(are steel plates 'SAPI' or is that just ceramic?)

[Acolyte]

The panels I'm thinking of have like an inch or so of 'padding' ... I'll see if I can get a pic.

[Jeff White]

Are you talking about rifle plates that are worn in conjunction with soft armor, like the plates that go in the IBAS? Or are you talking about the trauma plates that are ususally used in conjunction with concealable body armor to give a little added protection to the heart area?

From your description of an inch or so of padding, it sounds like you're talking about a stand alone rifle plate. That's not plastic padding but kevlar.

Rifle plates come in two types, stand alone (which means they can be used without any other armor) and plates that are made to be worn with level IIIa soft armor. The plates can be made of steel, titanium, ceramic composites and even plastic.

Jeff

[pcf]

The padding on the front of the plates is for spall protection. When a round strikes a plate it will burrow into the plate, deflect, or shatter or some combination thereof.

The rear face of Stand alone plates will be laminated with kevlar and/or fiberglass to keep chunks of plate from entering your body when hit with rifle rounds.

SAPI - Small Arms Protective Insert, it's a ceramic plate that meets the DOD SAPI standard.