Is Gold Good for Armor? Not Really…

As an avid gamer and armor enthusiast, I‘ve done extensive research into whether various metals make effective armor materials. And I have to conclude that gold actually makes for quite poor armor in reality. While games and movies often show highly protective "golden armor", the truth is that gold‘s physical properties make it a poor choice for stopping weapons.

Why Gold Disappoints as Armor

Gold may look pretty, but it lacks the hardness, strength, and affordability needed for effective armor.

Scratches Too Easily

On the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, gold scores just 2.5-3, far softer than protective metals like iron (4-5) or titanium (6). And softer metals dent and scratch more easily under an attack. Tests show even bronze penetrates gold armor more readily than iron plate. Not ideal against medieval swords or arrows!

Too Heavy to Wear

Gold weighs over 19 grams per cubic cm – nearly 3 times the density of steel. Soldiers often marched long distances wearing armor, so lighter protection is preferred. One attempt at 15th century golden armor saw the metal layer quickly removed to reduce fatigue.

Costs a Kingdom‘s Ransom

Armor for thousands of troops requires affordable materials. But with gold commanding over $1,600 per ounce, a full suit of gold plate armor could cost over $300,000! Impractical for outfitting large forces.

So in tests against real-world threats, gold makes for armor that scratches easily, tires the wearer, and breaks the bank. Let‘s analyze how it compares to other armor materials on protection…

Armor Material Protection Levels

Here‘s how various metals and modern composites stack up in terms of stopping bullets and blows:

You‘ll notice gold does not make the list. Experts confirm gold body armor does not exceed Level I protection, stopping just small caliber handgun rounds. Yet it remains far heavier than more protective Kevlar or steel plates.

So real-world tests prove that gold lacks the hardness, durability, penetration resistance and affordability for practical armor use. Fine for ceremonial purposes, but keep the gold armor in video games or fantasy movies!

Now that we‘ve settled the question of using gold armor, let‘s discuss…

After analyzing data on anti-ballistics performance, speaking with historians and materials engineers, and reviewing studies by groups like the Army Research Lab, I‘ve identified several key characteristics for optimal armor materials:

Hardness & Toughness

The material must resist denting, bending, or penetration when hit by blades, arrows, or bullets. Layering a hard surface (ceramics or metal) with a tough backing (fiber composite) optimizes this.

Strength-to-Weight Ratio

As mentioned, weight impacts mobility and endurance. The highest specific strength materials (e.g. carbon nanotubes) let armor stop threats without adding bulk.

Impact Energy Absorption

Blunt force trauma still kills even if penetration is avoided. Materials that absorb and distribute impact energies (like Spectra Shield) provide better protection.

Affordability

Economics matter on the battlefield! Advanced metals help but cheaper base materials (steels) enable mass production.

Durability

Armors must withstand environmental factors like heat, water, etc. and continue protecting despite scrapes and dings accumulated in combat. Resilience preserves integrity.

There‘s growing excitement in the armor community around Nano-Kevlar nanospheres – this graphene-based material breaks the traditional tradeoff between strength and flexibility for new levels of ballistics protection.

By considering all these elements in armor designs, next generation systems will keep raising the bar! Now let me share the latest intel on…