Advances in polymer/inorganic nanocomposite fabrics for lightweight and high-strength armor and ballistic-proof materials

Abstract

With increasing international and civilian conflicts, developing advanced body armor materials has become an emerging field in academia and industry. Continuous development of firearms entails improvements in ballistic-proof materials. Nanotechnology, by means of, incorporating nanomaterials, is considered a highly effective technique to achieve this goal, owing to high strength-to-weight ratios and excellent energy absorption capability of nano materials. Innovative, topographical polymer/inorganic nanocomposite fabric materials with high impact resistance, superlightweight, smart, high stiffness and elevated strength are of industrial interest for various ballistic and anti-impact applications. We consider recent designs of advanced ballistic-proof nanostructured materials by harnessing the outstanding structural surfaces and interfaces. Absorption and dispersion of a bullet’s impact energy by a network of fiber materials in the armor result in bullet mushrooming. Robustness at speedy projectiles, adequate solidity, and super lightweight are the major requirements for an ideal bulletproof armor material. Different armor nanoengineered composites are used for protection against ballistics, and their protective mechanisms have been studied. Meanwhile, ballistic-related performances of various nanomaterials developed using single or hybrid techniques are collected and compared. Ballistic-proof nanocomposite clothing, such as armors and vests, can protect bodies or properties from destruction by bullets and steel weapon fragments. Advanced armors can be fabricated with the aid of reinforced ceramics or hybrid polymeric graphene nanocomposites and these materials can be used for additional protection. Hard NPs-intercalated, liquid carrier, hydrophobic self-cleaning, slippage, thicker reinforced armor fabrics are preferred. The yarns and coils show great promise for high performance, light-weight, and flexible energy harvesting materials. This review discusses uses of lightweight materials such as metal matrix composites, polymer composites, ceramic matrix composites, fiber composites in defence sectors. The findings indicate that introducing micro- and nano-fillers coating on armor fabrics is a promising method for high ballistic impact resistance and impact energy absorption of the hybrid composite laminates. Such comprehensive review would motivate the futuristic bullet-proof armor materials with enhanced efficiency for the development of a protective environment.