Performance Armour

"Because you don't need to sacrifice your performance for your appearance"

Here at Performance Armour, we offer a wide variety of materials for you to choose from when having your armour constructed.  You might be asking yourself why you would choose one type of material over another, so we prepared this short prospectus of different materials to outline the benefits and shortcomings of each possible choice. 

For a more technical discussion, and the data associated with that, Click here

Material

Selection

• A modern Steel that is very similar to medieval steels, although still of a generally higher carbon content than that found in many medieval armours
  

• Has the most historically accurate appearance to the trained eye
  

• A commonly utilized armour material (making it easier to match the different elements of your kit)
  

• Can be polished to a full mirror finish if desired.
  

• Is a ductile enough material to accept very complex shapes, and very sharp edged fluting
  

• Can be effectively etched, oxidized, plated, and inlaid
  

Benefits

Shortcomings

Spring Steel (1050 Tempered)

Suggested Material when:

• Maximum Authenticity is the primary issue
  

• While Tougher than mild steel, it is still quite dentable in typical combat recreations.
  

• Is readily scratched
  

• Rust, Rust, Rust, and did I mention. . . RUST!
  

• Is heavier than other available material choices.
  

• Has a -very- high overall maintenance requirement due to the need to keep it well waxed at all times to prevent rust.
  

• Expensive as a material, and made moreso by the exacting and time consuming requirements of the hardening and tempering process.
  

• Will not rust unless severely abused
  

• A commonly utilized armouring material (making it easier to match to other pieces of your kit.)
  

• Does not dent as easily as mild steel in commonly utilized armour thicknesses
  

• Does not scratch as readily as mild steel
  

• Can be polished to a full mirror finish if desired
  

• Is a ductile enough material to accept moderately complex shapes, and rounded fluting.
  

• Can be effectively etched, oxidized, plated, and inlaid
  

• Is lighter than mild steel in thicknesses commonly utilized for armour.  (actually, stainless steel weights are almost identical to mild steel weights, but because it's a stonger material, thinner guages of stainless steel are commonly utilized for armour construction to achieve similar protective qualities.)
  

• Weighs approx. 82% of a similar mild-steel armour.
  

Benefits

Shortcomings

Stainless Steel (304 Stainless)

Suggested Material when:

• Low-Maintenance combat armour is the desire
  

• The armour will be used in an area or manner where Rust is a problem.
  

• More expensive material than mild steel
  

• More difficult to work than mild steel (contributing to additional labour-related costs)
  

• Mirror polished pieces can appear more "white" to the trained eye than comperable pieces in other materials.
  

• Will not rust (but does develop a chalky-white oxide layer over time, unless anodized)
  

• Does not dent easily in the thicknesses commonly utilized for armour
  

• Can be polished toa full mirror finish if desired (but see shortcomings)
  

• Can be anodized to provide a fairly durable permanent finish in a variety of colors.
  

• Lighter than Stainless Steel in thicknesses commonly utilized for armour.  (aluminum is one of the lightest metals commmonly available, but is not particularly strong in thin sheets.  However, even when the thickness of the aluminum is indcreased to provide the needed level of protection, the total weight will be less than a comperable stainless steel piece.)
  

• Weighs approx. 43% as much as a comperable mild steel piece of armour.
  

Benefits

Shortcomings

Aluminum (6061-T6)

Suggested Material when:

• Weight is a significant concern, and the aluminum will either be anodized a particular color or covered by another material.
  

• More expensive than Mild or Stainless Steel
  

• Mirror polished pieces rapidly develop an oxidation-haze and are easily told from steel by the trained eye, although this effect can be eliminated by clear-anodizing the piece.
  

• Material is difficult to move into complex curves, and generally too brittle for sharp ridges (contributing to additional labor related costs, and limiting it's use to armour elements that will accept the needed shape restrictions)
  

• To achieve the necessary level of protection utilizing aluminum the thickness of individual armour plates must be increased, this can cause a look of "Bulkiness"
  

• Very easily Scratched
  

• Not a commonly utilized armour material
  

• Will not Rust
  

• Is Extremely dent-resistant, even in very thin sheets
  

• Is very scratch-resistant
  

• Can be polished to a mirror finish that is almost indistinguishable from mild steel (thereby making it easier to match to kits otherwise composed of steel)
  

• By Far the lightest of available metal material choices
  

• Overall Durability of material is such that is should never need to be replaced under normal use.
  

• Weighs approx. 43% as much as a comperable mild steel piece of armour.
  

• Is typically thinner than comperable mild steel pieces of armour while providing equal or superior protection.
  

Benefits

Shortcomings

Titanium (6AL-4V)

Suggested Material when:

• Minimum Weight is a primary concern
  

• No Maintenance requirement is a primary concern
  

• The longevity of the armour is a primary concern
  

• You're willing to make a significant investment in armour, so that you'll only need to make that investment one time.
  

• Very Expensive material
  

• Material will not accept very complex curves, or any sharp ridges (thereby contributing to significant additional labor-related costs, and limiting its use to armour elements that will accept the necessary shape restrictions)
  

• The extemely high tensile-strength of this material allows for the use of very thin sheets to achieve an appropriate level of protection. . . however the material -does- flex on impact.  This can cause a greater degree of felt-impact during combat, and is why we offer neoprene rubber linings on our TI armour to offset this tendency.
  

• Will not rust
  

• A very light material, comperable to Aluminum
  

• Does not dent
  

• An inexpensive material, comparable to mild steel in material costs
  

• an easily worked material (contributing to lower labor costs for production of armour)
  

Benefits

Shortcomings

Plastic (ABS Sheet)

Suggested Material when:

• Weight is a concern, and the plastic will be completely covered.
  

• A Blatantly modern material that will only be produced by this armoury when completely and permanantly covered by some other material (leather, fabric, etc. . .)
  

• Not very stiff, particularly at high temperatures, contributing to a greater felt impact.
  

• Can become brittle and easily broken at temperatures below 0 degrees F.
  

• Easily Scratched and Gouged
  

• Difficult to work into complex curves &/or ridges without melt-casting.  (this limits the use of the material.)
  

No, we  don't use plastic barrels. . .

• A modern Steel that is similar to some lower-grade  medieval steels, although still of a generally higher carbon content than that found in many medieval armours
  

• Untrained individuals generally identify mild steel as a historically authentic material.
  

• A commonly utilized armour material (making it easier to match the different elements of your kit)
  

• The least expensive material choice for exposed metal armour
  

• Can be polished to a full mirror finish if desired.
  

• Is a ductile enough material to accept very complex shapes, and very sharp edged fluting
  

• Can be effectively etched, oxidized, plated, and inlaid
  

Benefits

Shortcomings

Mild Steel (1018 Cold Rolled)

Suggested Material when:

• Lowest Cost is the the primary Concern
  

• The intended use is costuming only, not combat protection
  

• Is readily dented in the thicknesses commonly utilized for armour; both in SCA and rebated steel combat.
  

• Is readily scratched
  

• Rust, Rust, Rust, and did I mention. . . RUST!
  

• Is considerably heavier than other available material choices.
  

• Has a higher overall maintenance requirement due to the above issues.
  

• Has a much shorter expected lifespan in use than other available material choices.