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A news article popped up today that has some application in a personal defense arena.  If you are a criminal organization then you probably should not be looking into this.  The item of course is the bullet proof t-shirt.

From the article

Here’s how it works:  By dipping pieces of cotton from a T-shirt into a solution of boron powder, the researchers created a network of nanowires made out of boron carbide – the third hardest material known to man at room temperature.

The claim is that it is less expensive than traditional body armor, and according to the lead researcher it could bring armor to the masses.  They also claim that the technique could be used to make light weight (read fuel efficient) and inexpensive vehicle bodies such as automobiles and airplanes.  If it has the strength, why not. 

This armor wont be on par with kevlar per the article, my guess is that it will probably be about Level I, maybe Level II.  For reference many police wear Level IIIa which is a lot stronger and can withstand some rifle and all standard handgun ammo.

The article does not mention if it is possible to utilize multiple layers and make something that might even approach Level IV (can stop .30-06 armor piercing and a .30 M2 armor piercing) protection levels.  Level IV is the highest level of protection and its hard not soft, usually by way of a steel plate or similar inserted into the vest. Level IV is equivalent to 3/4″ ceramic or 1/2″ ballistic steel plates.  If you can get the strength without the weight or cost then it costs far less to  equip soldiers with this, and it does not tire them out as much to wear it.  Time will tell where this goes.