Polyethylene PE is a new thermoplastic material. Polyethylene ballistic PE panel products are manufactured by bonding unidirectional ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibers on HDPE panels. The sheet is cut to shape, placed in a mold, and compressed under high temperature and pressure to produce a sticky hard armor plate. Polyethylene "sticks" to the bullet by melting the polyethylene using the friction caused by the rotation of the bullet. After the rotation stops, the heat is no longer generated, and the polyethylene cools and hardens again.

The quality of polyethylene ballistic PE panel products is generally around 1 to 1.5kg, which is much lighter than steel inserts and ceramic bulletproof inserts. However, due to the limitations of the current material technology, the highest protection level that pure PE inserts can achieve is NIJ III, which cannot defend against rifle armor-piercing bullets and more powerful bullets.