Miracle material that saves troops' lives

A soldier shelters from the heat but keeps on his armour

PRIVATE David Poderis's helmet will now be sent back to the UK for extensive military testing before being put on display at the TA centre in Dumbarton.

This particular incident proves the Kevlar helmet is effective, and specialist teams will want to know why.

The helmet acquired its name because the shell is made from 19 layers of Kevlar, a ballistic fabric treated with a phenolic resin system first commercially used in the early 1970s as a replacement for steel in racing tyres.

The fabric has been regarded as one of the most significant achievements in the development of body armour.

It was tested in four phases over several years. The programme included tests to see whether it could stop a lead bullet.

In the last phase of testing, the material was improved to ensure its final form was waterproof and sunlight-proof. It had been found to allow bullets through after exposure to rain and UV light.