2024 - Sustainable Industrial Processing Summit
SIPS 2024 Volume 8. Monteiro Intl. Symp / Composite, Ceramic and Nano Materials Processing
| Editors: | F. Kongoli, P. Assis, H.A.C. Lopera, S. Diaz, V. Scarpini Candido |
| Publisher: | Flogen Star OUTREACH |
| Publication Year: | 2024 |
| Pages: | 288 pages |
| ISBN: | 978-1-998384-18-1 (CD) |
| ISSN: | 2291-1227 (Metals and Materials Processing in a Clean Environment Series) |
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INFLUENCE OF FABRICATION TECHNIQUES ON THE BALLISTIC PERFORMANCE OF ARAMID LAMINATED COMPOSITES
Sarah de Melo1; Lucas Reis1; Sergio Monteiro1;1MILITARY INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil;
Type of Paper: Regular
Id Paper: 190
Topic: 18
Abstract:
Commonly metals, ceramics, and polymers have been widely used in the manufacturing of armor components. However, due to the growing demand for components that provide comparable ballistic impact resistance with a significant reduction in weight, laminated composite structures have emerged as key substitutes. These composites have found significant application in the construction of components for bulletproof vests, ballistic panels, and military vehicle protection [1]. The mechanical performance of structural composites is strongly dependent on the volumetric fraction of their constituents and the presence of defects, such as voids, resulting from the manufacturing process. Optimal properties are generally achieved when the laminated composite structure has a high reinforcement volume fraction and a low void content. However, when addressing composites intended for ballistic applications, voids might not be detrimental. Indeed, in high-speed impact scenarios, a wave is generated and travels through the material. This wave induces stresses in the material, potentially resulting in
strain, as well as partial or complete perforation of the target. Voids generated during the molding process do not necessarily have a detrimental effect [2]. On the contrary, they have the ability to induce a change in the wave medium, altering the stress imposed on the material. Therefore, manufacturing techniques that are simpler and economically viable, tending to generate composites with a higher void volume, may prove efficient for the production of ballistic components. In the present work, composite plates made of aramid fiber and impregnated with epoxy resin were produced using the vacuum-assisted resin transfer molding and compression molding techniques. Subsequently, a residual velocity test was conducted by firing a .45 caliber projectile using a pressure rifle. Preliminary results revealed that although there was no statistically significant difference in the absorbed energy value between the samples, and no sample was completely perforated, there was a clear distinction in the fracture mode. The sample produced by compression molding exhibited a much greater indentation compared to that manufactured by infusion, which, in turn, dissipated the shot's energy through total layer delamination. This suggests that, in terms of application in bulletproof vests, the infusion-manufactured sample showed superior performance, as it would result in less trauma for the user [3].