Ballistic Performance of Guaruman Fiber Composites in Multilayered Armor System and as Single Target.

Raphael Reis,Sergio Monteiro,Verônica Candido,Alisson Da Silva,Fernanda Da Luz,Larissa Nunes

doi:10.3390/polym13081203

Raphael Reis, Sergio Monteiro + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/polym13081203

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Abstract

Multilayered armor systems (MAS) with a front ceramic layer backed by a relatively unknown Amazonian guaruman fiber-reinforced (Ischnosiphon koem) epoxy composites, as second layer, were for the first time ballistic tested against the threat of 7.62 mm rifle ammunition. The amount of 30 vol% guaruman fibers was investigated in three distinct configurations: (i) continuous aligned, (ii) 0–90° cross-laid, and (iii) short-cut randomly dispersed. Additionally, single-target ballistic tests were also carried out in the best MAS-performed composite with cross-laid guaruman fibers against .22 caliber ammunition. The results disclosed that all composites as MAS second layer attended the US NIJ standard with corresponding penetration depth of (i) 32.9, (ii) 27.5, and (iii) 29.6 mm smaller than the lethal limit of 44 mm in a clay witness simulating a personal body. However, the continuous aligned guaruman fiber composite lost structural integrity by delamination after the 7.62 projectile impact. By contrast, the composite with cross-laid guaruman fibers kept its integrity for subsequent shootings as recommended by the standard. The single-target tests indicated a relatively higher limit velocity for .22 caliber projectile perforation, 255 m/s, and absorbed energy of 106 J for the cross-laid guaruman fibers, which are superior to corresponding results for other less known natural fiber epoxy composites.

Highlights

Multilayered armor systems (MASs) have been investigated and applied as inserted plates in vests for personal ballistic protection against the threat of high-velocity ammunition [1,2,3]
Considering numerous reported works using epoxy matrix composites reinforced with natural lignocellulosic fiber (NLF) as well as natural fabric and bagasse [1,7,27,30,31,32,33,37,38,39,40,41], the present work evaluates the ballistic performance of MASs with Al2 O3 /Nb2 O5 ceramic front layer followed by epoxy matrix composites reinforced with 30 vol% guaruman fiber, as second layer, and backed by a KevlarTM panel with 12 layers simulating a bulletproof vest-level
Similar epoxy laminate plates reinforced with 30 vol% of continuous and aligned guaruman fibers [45] displayed significant tensile strength properties associated with good statistical repeatability, which supports the present investigation on ballistic performance

Summary

Introduction

Multilayered armor systems (MASs) have been investigated and applied as inserted plates in vests for personal ballistic protection against the threat of high-velocity ammunition [1,2,3]. A less-known piassava fiber from Brazil [27] was recently found to provide efficient ballistic performance reinforcing an epoxy matrix composite as MAS second layer. Considering numerous reported works using epoxy matrix composites reinforced with NLFs as well as natural fabric and bagasse [1,7,27,30,31,32,33,37,38,39,40,41], the present work evaluates the ballistic performance of MASs with Al2 O3 /Nb2 O5 ceramic front layer followed by epoxy matrix composites reinforced with 30 vol% guaruman fiber, as second layer, and backed by a KevlarTM panel with 12 layers simulating a bulletproof vest-level. Three distinct configurations of guaruman fibers embedded into the epoxy matrix are investigated

Materials

Composite Fabrication

Multilayered Armor Assembly

Ballistic Tests

Results and Discussion

Conclusions