Tensylon® in Mexico
What the material is, its features and its use in armor.
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Armor materials
Tensylon® vs. ballistic steel
It is not one or the other: how they complement each other in car and SUV armor.
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- Tensylon® vs. ballistic steel
Tensylon® or ballistic steel?
Ballistic steel, such as SSAB Armox 600T or Ramor 550, stops the projectile with hardness and thickness. Tensylon® is a polyethylene (UHMWPE) laminate that absorbs energy and fragments with much less weight.
The right question is not which is better, but how to combine them to reach the protection level you need without making the vehicle heavy. That is why RGM Armor uses hybrid armor.
General comparison
General comparison of both materials based on known physical data and the manufacturer's datasheet. It does not replace ballistic testing of a complete armor package.
The weight of one laminate sheet is not that of a full panel, which is built from many pressed sheets. That is why armor is designed and tested as a system, for the level sought.
Sources: DuPont™ Tensylon® HSBD 30A datasheet and Arclin website (arclin.com/brands/tensylon).
- Approximate density
- Steel: about 7.85 g/cm³ · UHMWPE polyethylene: about 1 g/cm³
- Reference weight
- 6 mm steel: approx. 47 kg per m² · One sheet of Tensylon® HSBD 30A: 111 g/m²
- Role in the armor
- Steel: stops and deforms the projectile · Tensylon®: absorbs energy and fragments
- Back-face deformation
- Tensylon®: the manufacturer highlights its low back-face deflection
- Use in vehicles
- Used together: steel in key areas and Tensylon® as a lining
- At RGM Armor
- Hybrid armor with Armox 600T, Ramor 550 and Tensylon®
Armor materials
What each material brings
- 01
Steel: hardness and confidence
Proven, strong, certified material to stop projectiles in doors, body and strategic areas.
- 02
Steel: more weight
At equal thickness it weighs far more; too much steel affects brakes, suspension and fuel use.
- 03
Tensylon®: lightness
Polyethylene weighs about one eighth of steel by volume, which helps preserve performance.
- 04
Tensylon®: fragments
It helps contain fragments that break away from the steel and the body on impact.
- 05
Hybrid: the best of both
Steel where hardness is needed and Tensylon® where lightness and containment are needed.
- 06
Designed by level
Each vehicle is designed for its armor level, the vehicle and daily use.
When is each one the right choice?
Steel alone may be enough for low-level armor or specific areas. When a higher level is wanted on a drivable vehicle, hybrid armor with Tensylon® is usually a better combination.
If you are unsure, we advise you on your vehicle, level and use, with no obligation.
- Cars and sedans
- SUVs and crossovers
- Pickups and trucks
- Vans and transport vehicles
How we do it at RGM Armor
Our Level IV+ and Level V+ vehicles available for immediate delivery combine SSAB Armox 600T and Ramor 550 ballistic steel with a Tensylon® lining, installed by trained staff at our Monterrey plant.
We also armor your vehicle, any make, with the material and level that suit it best.
Automotive armor
More about our armor
Ballistic steel
SSAB Armox 600T and Ramor 550 steel for every area of the vehicle.
See detailsHybrid armor
Tensylon® combined with ballistic steel to protect with less weight.
See detailsQuestions about Tensylon® and steel
Which weighs less, Tensylon® or ballistic steel?
Tensylon® is a polyethylene laminate with a density near 1 g/cm³; steel is around 7.85 g/cm³. So the laminate is much lighter at equal volume.
Can a car be armored with Tensylon® alone?
It depends on the level and design. In vehicles it is almost always used in hybrid armor, together with ballistic steel and bulletproof glass.
What is hybrid armor?
It is the combination of ballistic steel with a Tensylon® lining to protect with less weight than steel alone.
What steel does RGM Armor use?
Certified SSAB Armox 600T and Ramor 550 ballistic steel, depending on the area of the vehicle.
How do I know which armor my vehicle needs?
Message us on WhatsApp or schedule a visit to the plant in Monterrey; we advise you based on vehicle, level and use.
Contact
Take action for your safety
Talk to an armoring specialist to get a quote for your vehicle or schedule a plant visit.