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Bullet-proof glass

Tony Swain, Australia

It might be better to call it 'bullet-resistant' glass, because it resists penetration, although a series of bullets fired at the same place will eventually break through. It is usually made by sandwiching a layer of deformable polycarbonate plastic between glass layers. The bullet's impact shatters the outer layer of glass, spreading the energy over a wide area so the plastic layer 'gives', but does not rupture. There is also a 'one-way' bullet-resistant glass, with one glass layer missing. It stops bullets coming through the glass, but allows the person on the inside to return fire.

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