Impact Response of Aramid Fabric-Reinforced Polybenzoxazine/Urethane Composites Containing Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes Used as Support Panel in Hard Armor.

Phattarin Mora,Christopher W Bielawski,Chanchira Jubsilp,Sarawut Rimdusit

doi:10.3390/polym13162779

Abstract

The aim of this research project is to analyze support panels that are based on aramid fabrics which are reinforced with polybenzoxazine/urethane (poly(BA-a/PU)) composites and contain multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). Through the measurement of mechanical properties and a series of ballistic-impact tests that used 7.62 × 51 mm2 projectiles (National Institute of Justice (NIJ), level III), the incorporated MWCNTs were found to enhance the energy-absorption (EAbs) property of the composites, improve ballistic performance, and reduce damage. The perforation process and the ballistic limit (V50) of the composite were also studied via numerical simulation, and the calculated damage patterns were correlated with the experimental results. The result indicated hard armor based on polybenzoxazine nanocomposites could completely protect the perforation of a 7.62 × 51 mm2 projectile at impact velocity range of 847 ± 9.1 m/s. The results revealed the potential for using the poly(BA-a/PU) nanocomposites as energy-absorption panels for hard armor.

Highlights

Fiber-reinforced polymer composites (FRPs) have been extensively used in many high-performance applications that pertain to ballistic protection, such as helmets [1] and other types of body armor [2,3,4,5,6]
When such panels are juxtaposed with front ceramic tiles, they are often referred to as “ballistic hard armor” in part because they mitigate high-velocity projectiles, including those that adhere to National Institute of Justice (NIJ) standards (e.g., 7.62 × 51 mm2 caliber projectiles with an average impact velocity of 847 ± 9.1 m/s) [7,8,9,10]
These results indicated that multilayered hard armor specimens that consisted of a strike panel of S-glass fabric composite and supported by a panel of aramid fabric that was reinforced with a poly(BA-a/PU) composite containing multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) could protect against the perforation of a 7.62 × 51 mm2 projectile at an impact velocity of up to 847 ± 9.1 m/s

Summary

Introduction

Fiber-reinforced polymer composites (FRPs) have been extensively used in many high-performance applications that pertain to ballistic protection, such as helmets [1] and other types of body armor [2,3,4,5,6]. The utility is due to the excellent mechanical properties and energy-absorption capabilities of FRPs. Among the fibers used in such applications, aramid woven fabrics are often effective and commonly used in back-energy-absorption panels. Among the fibers used in such applications, aramid woven fabrics are often effective and commonly used in back-energy-absorption panels When such panels are juxtaposed with front ceramic tiles, they are often referred to as “ballistic hard armor” in part because they mitigate high-velocity projectiles, including those that adhere to National Institute of Justice (NIJ) standards (e.g., 7.62 × 51 mm caliber projectiles with an average impact velocity of 847 ± 9.1 m/s) [7,8,9,10]. The energy-absorption properties of the composite are of paramount importance for evaluating the ballistic performance of the support panel

Methods

Results

Conclusion