[Wiseghy]

Sounds like sweat, salts and acids from the body may degrade the fabric. The rate of decay may not have shown up in standard "dummy" testing.

My understanding is that the owner of the company was shocked and may put his company under recalling all of the vests without charge.

[1035rep]

Actually they are more like 2 years late in reporting. NIJ put out a press release 9/03. They initially blamed it on Toyobo the manufacturer of the Zylon fabric but Toyobo said it was the way they weaved the material. Second Chance offered either new panel inserts or a replacement vest at a reduced cost. NIJ has said that a vest that has been modified in any way does not comply with the testing standards of there agency so they had to replace them. Most agencies did not trust to buy from them again which is probably why they are bankrupt.