How Are Life Jackets Made?

Life jackets are designed to keep a person afloat in water during an emergency situation, allowing the person to breathe while waiting for help.

  1. History

    • Early life jackets were made from materials such as balsa wood and cork, however, significant modifications were made in the 20th century.

    Significance

    • Most modern life jackets are made from plastic. The most common jackets are made from what is known as closed-cell foam or foamed plastics inside of nylon.

    Function

    • The first step in making a life jacket is creating markers where the pattern is created on paper by a machine. Next, the pattern is placed on the nylon and the design is either cut by hand or a machine.

    Effects

    • Once the nylon is cut, the closed-cell foam is cut with a machine to the desired thickness. Then the foam is put through the same pattern process as the nylon.

    Potential

    • The nylon pieces of the vest are then sewn together by machines and the foam is placed inside the vest. Straps, labels, snaps and reflective tape is then added.