God's Chemistry Set: Kevlar - The Whole Armor of ManThe Word

In the movie "The Incredibles" (Disney/Pixar 2004) Lucius, aka "Frozone", is getting ready to take his wife out for their anniversary dinner when he sees the public in danger and springs into action to save them, only to find his wife has put away his "super suit."

Lucius: Honey?
Honey: What?
Lucius: Where's my super suit?
Honey: What?
Lucius: Where - is - my - super - suit?
Honey: I, uh, put it away.
[helicopter explodes outside]
Lucius: *Where*?
Honey: *Why* do you *need* to know?
Lucius: I need it!

Frozone's suit had to be able to withstand the cold of his icy breath. And when Mr. Incredible's original suit was damaged, Edna makes new suits for the whole family. She makes Dash's suit able to handle his "incredible" speed.

Edna (speaking to Elastigirl): "Your boy's suit I designed to withstand enormous friction without heating up or wearing out, a useful feature."

Could these suits have been made of Kevlar®?

Polymer Science Learning Center

Five times stronger than steel, Kevlar was discovered almost by accident in the DuPont Labs in 1964. Chemist Stephanie Kwolek was searching for a new lightweight fiber strong enough to replace the steel belts in tires. The gas crisis was looming and such a fiber would help improve gas mileage. Working with para-phenylenediamine and terephthaloyl chloride in an attempt to form a new polymer, she took the portion usually discarded from the reaction and spun it to test for a fiber. The unexpected result was Kevlar.

Kevlar is a long chain poly para-phenyleneterephthalamide fiber, and it is more properly known as a para-aramid. Aramids, an abbreviation for aromatic polyamides, belong to the family of nylons. Kevlar's structure consists of relatively rigid molecules which tend to form mostly planar sheets similar to that found in silk protein. The polymer owes its high strength to the many inter-chain hydrogen bonds that form between the carbonyl (C=O) groups and the N-H centers. Additional strength is derived from aromatic stacking interactions between adjacent strands. Like graphite, Kevlar laminates can be made thermally stable. Unlike graphite, Kevlar is very resistant to impact and abrasion damage.

Kevlar acts as Man's Physical Protection
As the Word of God is Man's Spiritual Protection

Kevlar is a space-age material designed for high stress applications. It has superior resistance to heat and wear, is difficult to cut, does not stretch and is inflammable. Its strength is far greater than almost any other reinforcing material.

General Properties of KEVLAR®

High Tensile Strength at Low Weight
Low Elongation (Structural Rigidity)
Low Electrical Conductivity
High Chemical Resistance
Low Thermal Shrinkage
High Toughness (Work-To-Break)
Excellent Dimensional Stability
High Cut Resistance
Flame Resistant, Self-Extinguishing

Kevlar is one of the most important man-made fibers ever developed. Because of its unique combination of properties, it is used today in a wide variety of industrial applications. Kevlar comes in a number of grades depending on the properties needed for a specific use.

Some Commercial Applications of KEVLAR®

Body Armor (Bullet-proof Vests)
Armored Vehicles
Bicycle Tires
Racing Sails
Drum Heads
Ropes and Cables
Loudspeakers
Brake Linings
Thermal Standoff in Cryogenics
Motorcycle Safety Clothing
Sports Equipment (Tennis Rackets, Basketball and Soccer Shoes)

Kevlar is probably best known for its use in bullet-proof vests. Because of its strength, heat tolerance, light weight, resistance to cutting and flexibility, it is perfect for use as protective gear in fire and rescue operations and for police officers, security, and SWAT.

Kevlar has been used as a substitute for Teflon in some non-stick frying pans. When woven into a cable, Kevlar has been used in suspension bridges such as the bridge at Aberfeldy, Scotland. It has also been used to stabilize cracking concrete cooling towers by wrapping the whole tower followed by tensioning the Kevlar to close the cracks.

Like all good things, Kevlar also has a few disadvantages. Much like kryptonite with Superman, the ultraviolet component of sunlight degrades and decomposes Kevlar so it is rarely used outdoors without protection against sunlight. The fibers themselves absorb moisture, so Kevlar composites are more sensitive to the environment than glass or graphite composites. Kevlar is also very difficult to cut. You will need special scissors for cutting dry fabric and special drill bits for drilling cured laminates. Cutting of cured laminates without fraying is very difficult. A retractable roof of Kevlar was a key part of the design of Montreal's Olympic Stadium for the 1976 Summer Olympics. It was spectacularly unsuccessful, as it was completed ten years late (in 1986) and replaced in May 1998 after a series of problems.

Kevlar is a synthetic compound developed by man utilizing the unlimited properties of God's Chemistry Set in a unique fashion for man's protection. Just as Kevlar provides protection for man in the Physical World, so does God's Word protect us in the Spiritual. Paul, in Ephesians, speaks of the ongoing spiritual battles all around us and tells us how to use the "full armor of God" to protect ourselves and help us fight that battle.

Ephesians 6:10-18 (NLT) - A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. ¹¹Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. ¹²For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

¹³Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. ¹⁴Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. ¹⁵For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared. ¹⁶In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil. ¹⁷Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

¹⁸Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

The Whole Armor of God

Belt of Truth - (Isaiah 11:5 NIV)
Body Armor of Righteousness - (Phil 3:9 NIV)
Shoes of the Gospel of Peace - (Gal 5:16 NKJV)
Shield of Faith - (Proverbs 30:5 NIV)
Helmet of Salvation - (Psalms 140:7 NKJV)
Sword of the Spirit - (Hebrews 4:12 NKJV)

All of these elements of protection come from God and are ours to use, we just need to be covered in His Word and pray. He will give us the strength in battle to defend ourselves against the wiles of the Devil. The Armor refers to the vigilant righteousness bestowed on us by the grace of God.

Romans 13:12 (NKJV) - The night is far spent, the day [of salvation] is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light.

God is with us every step of the way in every battle if we just believe. We need to have Faith and the knowledge of His Word.

Deuteronomy 20:3-4 (NIV) ..."Hear, O Israel, today you are going into battle against your enemies. Do not be faint-hearted or afraid; do not be terrified or give way to panic before them. For the Lord your God is the One who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory."

2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV) - If My people, who are called by My Name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.