Nomex has been successfully tried.

That’s a pretty smart way to protect center mass… plenty of times, my wife has tried to take me out while practicing/fumbling my way some awful lick — luckily she’s not a very good shot!

No, but I can tell you my Kevlar canoe has taken a lot of licks and keeps on ticking. (My apologies, I couldn't resist. All I know is that it is great for a canoe.)

All I know has come from the all-knowing Google: https://www.google.com/search?q=kevlar+banjo+head&rlz=1C1CHBF_enCA1116CA1116&oq=kevlar+banjo+head&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBggAEEUYOzIGCAAQRRg7Mg0IARAAGIYDGIAEGIoFMg0IAhAAGIYDGIAEGIoFMg0IAxAAGIYDGIAEGIoFMg0IBBAAGIYDGIAEGIoFMgcIBRAAGO8FMgcIBhAAGO8FMgcIBxAAGO8FMgoICBAAGIAEGKIE0gEJNjAyM2owajE1qAIIsAIB8QVmpJFd3RCM4g&sourceid=chrome&source=chrome.rb&ie=UTF-8

A Kevlar banjo head is an exceptionally thick, stiff synthetic head that emphasizes high frequencies and offers incredible strength for a sharp, snappy, and crisp tone. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Sound and Performance Characteristics

• High-Frequency Boost: Kevlar heads emphasize bright, sharp treble tones, mimicking the crisp response of an archtop tone ring even on flathead banjos. [1, 2]

• Stiffness and Tension: At roughly 16.5 mils thick, Kevlar is much thicker and stronger than standard Mylar heads, meaning it resists sagging and allows for extremely high tension levels. [1, 2, 3]

• Texture and Sustain: It features a unique "orange-peel" surface texture (textured yet smooth) and delivers strong, clean sustain, working particularly well on 6-string and 12-string banjos. [1, 2]

quote:

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Originally posted by Owen

A Kevlar banjo head is an exceptionally thick, stiff synthetic head that emphasizes high frequencies and offers incredible strength for a sharp, snappy, and crisp tone. [1, 2, 3, 4]

Sound and Performance Characteristics

• High-Frequency Boost: Kevlar heads emphasize bright, sharp treble tones, mimicking the crisp response of an archtop tone ring even on flathead banjos. [1, 2]

• Stiffness and Tension: At roughly 16.5 mils thick, Kevlar is much thicker and stronger than standard Mylar heads, meaning it resists sagging and allows for extremely high tension levels. [1, 2, 3]

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In that case, this seems like the not-to-go-to material by the sound of it.....

I've played Kevlar heads on drums. They are designed for industrial strength & not musical qualities. They are used for the extreme tension of Scottish drum style tuning, & sound very dead, like playing on a table top. This info may not be helpful to your question about the banjo, but I would not put Kevlar on a banjo. They are also tricky to mount & tune evenly.