Advancement in Graphene-Based Materials and Their Nacre Inspired Composites for Armour Applications—A Review

The development of armour systems with higher ballistic resistance and light weight has gained considerable attention as an increasing number of countries are recognising the need to build up advanced self-defence system to deter potential military conflicts and threats. Graphene is a two dimensional one-atom thick nanomaterial which possesses excellent tensile strength (130 GPa) and specific penetration energy (10 times higher than steel). It is also lightweight, tough and stiff and is expected to replace the current aramid fibre-based polymer composites. Currently, insights derived from the study of the nacre (natural armour system) are finding applications on the development of artificial nacre structures using graphene-based materials that can achieve high toughness and energy dissipation. The aim of this review is to discuss the potential of graphene-based nanomaterials with regard to the penetration energy, toughness and ballistic limit for personal body armour applications. This review addresses the cutting-edge research in the ballistic performance of graphene-based materials through theoretical, experimentation as well as simulations. The influence of fabrication techniques and interfacial interactions of graphene-based bioinspired polymer composites for ballistic application are also discussed. This review also covers the artificial nacre which is shown to exhibit superior mechanical and toughness behaviours.

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Linking Theory to Practice: Predicting Ballistic Performance from Mechanical Properties of Aged Body Armor

Journal of Research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology ◽

10.6028/jres.125.026 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 125 ◽

Author(s):

Amanda L. Forster ◽

Dennis D. Leber ◽

Amy Engelbrecht-Wiggans ◽

Virginie Landais ◽

Allen Chang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Accelerated Aging ◽

Test Methods ◽

The Body ◽

Body Armor ◽

Ballistic Limit ◽

Ballistic Performance ◽

Validation Data ◽

Data Set ◽

Ballistic Resistance

It has long been a goal of the body armor testing community to establish an individualized, scientific-based protocol for predicting the ballistic performance end of life for fielded body armor. A major obstacle in achieving this goal is the test methods used to ascertain ballistic performance, which are destructive in nature and require large sample sizes. In this work, using both the Cunniff and Phoenix-Porwal models, we derived two separate but similar theoretical relationships between the observed degradation in mechanical properties of aged body armor and its decreased ballistic performance. We present two studies used to validate the derived functions. The first correlates the degradation in mechanical properties of fielded body armor to the degradation produced by a laboratory accelerated-aging protocol. The second examines the ballistic resistance and the extracted-yarn mechanical properties of new and laboratory-aged body armor made from poly(p-phenylene-2,6-benzobisoxazole), or PBO, and poly(p-phenylene terephthalamide), or PPTA. We present correlations found between the tensile strengths of yarns extracted from armor and the ballistic limit (V50) when significant degradation of the mechanical properties of the extracted yarns was observed. These studies provided the basis for a validation data set in which we compared the experimentally measured V50 ballistic limit results to the theoretically predicted V50 results. The theoretical estimates were generally shown to provide a conservative prediction of the ballistic performance of the armor. This approach is promising for the development of a tool for fielded armor performance surveillance relying upon mechanical testing of armor coupon samples.

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Design and Performance Characteristics of New Female Bulletproof Vests

International conference KNOWLEDGE-BASED ORGANIZATION ◽

10.1515/kbo-2017-0177 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 23 (3) ◽

pp. 204-207

Author(s):

Claudiu Lăzăroaie ◽

Teodora Zecheru ◽

Mihaela Lăzăroaie ◽

Doina Toma

Keyword(s):

International Standards ◽

Performance Characteristics ◽

Performance Parameters ◽

3D Scanner ◽

Ballistic Performance ◽

Good Balance ◽

Ballistic Resistance ◽

Body Armour ◽

And Performance ◽

Bulletproof Vest

Abstract The new female bulletproof vest was designed with a superior female fit, this body armour providing a good balance between protection and comfort. One of the new issues in designing the female ballistic vest consists in taking into account the shape and bras size of Romanian female body, based on anthropometric survey using the 3D scanner technology. This bulletproof vest will provide comfort and mobility with the same or superior ballistic resistance properties versus standard body armour equipment. The ballistic performance parameters have been evaluated, in agreement with the international standards, in specialized laboratories of the Romanian MoD.

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Ballistic Limit Estimation Approaches for Ballistic Resistance Assessment

Defence Science Journal ◽

10.14429/dsj.70.14122 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 70 (1) ◽

pp. 82-89

Author(s):

Beya Tahenti ◽

Frederik Coghe ◽

Rachid Nasri

Keyword(s):

Extreme Values ◽

Impact Testing ◽

Estimation Methods ◽

Experimental Sample ◽

Ballistic Limit ◽

Ballistic Resistance ◽

Limit Velocity ◽

Resistance Assessment ◽

Ballistic Limit Velocity ◽

Set Up

The armour technologist conducts ballistic impact testing either for evaluating armour materials and systems or for studying material’s defeating mechanism. Most standards make use of the ballistic limit velocity for ballistic assessment. This is the bullet impact velocity that leads to the protection perforation in 50 per cent of the cases. Various models have been emerged to estimate this key metric. The present article summarises the popular models developed for ballistic limit estimation. An attempt is made to point out models’ strength and weakness. First, the experimental set-up used for that goal is displayed. Next, a concise overview of ballistic limit estimation methods is presented. Lastly, a discussion is dedicated to model’s comparison and analysis. This literature survey reveals that the main drawback of already existing methods is that they are purely statistical. Moreover, existing methods are based on the normality assumption of perforation velocities which tends from -infinity to infinity. The main conclusion of this survey is that the presented methods offer a comparable accuracy in estimating the ballistic limit velocity. However, a given variability is remarked when extreme values estimation is of interest, impact velocities leading to low and high perforation probability. Finally, existing models’ performances decay with the reduction of the experimental sample size which represent a constraining requirement in ballistic resistance assessment.

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Influence of the Laminate Configurations of Transparent Armor on its Ballistic Protection

Key Engineering Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/kem.608.253 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 608 ◽

pp. 253-258 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Priawthida Jantharat ◽

Ryan C. McCuiston ◽

Chaiwut Gamonpilas ◽

Sujarinee Kochawattana

Keyword(s):

Experimental Results ◽

Front Face ◽

Light Weight ◽

Ballistic Performance ◽

User Requirement ◽

Element Analysis ◽

Minimum Requirement ◽

National Institute Of Justice ◽

Ballistic Protection ◽

High Level

The ballistic performance of transparent armors has been continuously developed for an application on security purposes. Generally, ballistic performance of the laminated glass increases with its thickness and weight while the user requirement prefers high level of ballistic protection with thin and light weight body. In this study, fabrication of light weight glass-PVB transparent armors with the level-3 protection according to the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) standard was attempted. The ballistic performances of various configurations of glass-PVB laminates were determined against 7.62 mm ammunitions. Results from fragmentation analysis indicated the influence of glass-sheet-arrangement in the armor structures on the ballistic damages. The minimum requirement on the thickness of front-face layer was also discussed. To verify the experimental results, finite element analysis was performed on all laminated systems. It was found that the results from computational analysis were in reasonable agreement with the experimental results.

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Graphene Composites

Diffusion Foundations ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/df.23.57 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 23 ◽

pp. 57-63 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Chin Wei Lai

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Graphene Oxide ◽

Polymer Composites ◽

Applied Research ◽

Scientific Literature ◽

Filler Content ◽

2D Materials ◽

Industrial Applications ◽

Research Interest ◽

Two Dimensional

This chapter reviews recent development of graphene-based polymer composites. The formation of graphene oxide and graphene are a vital two dimensional (2D) material has received a lot of research interest in commercialization aspect due to its excellent electrical, thermal as well as mechanical properties at very low filler content. In this manner, utilization of graphene-based polymer composites with different polymer matrixes have been attracted increasing attention in recent years for both fundamental studies and applied research into industrial applications in many fields. Herein, novel properties of polymer (epoxy, polystyrene, and PANI) / graphene composites will be reviewed along with detailed examples drawn from the scientific literature. Keywords: Graphene-based polymer composites, thermo-mechanical properties, two dimensional (2D) materials

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Experimental and numerical investigation on the anti-penetration performance of metallic sandwich plates for marine applications

Journal of Sandwich Structures & Materials ◽

10.1177/1099636219855335 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 22 (2) ◽

pp. 494-522 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Na Zhao ◽

Renchuan Ye ◽

Ali Tian ◽

Jie Cui ◽

Peng Ren ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Aluminum Foam ◽

Failure Modes ◽

Sheet Thickness ◽

Face Sheet ◽

Sandwich Plates ◽

Ballistic Limit ◽

Ballistic Performance ◽

Core Thickness ◽

Protective Structures ◽

Constitutive Parameters

To predict the anti-penetration performance of protective structures, the ballistic performance of sandwich plates with steel face-sheet and aluminum foam core, the quasi-static compressive experiments of four different aluminum foam are performed and analyzed. The failure mechanism, mechanical parameters, and modified constitutive model are obtained. The virtual tests using numerical simulation were carried out in different penetration velocities based on quasi-static experimental constitutive parameters. Influence of projectile shape, face-sheet thickness, core thickness, and core densities on the residual velocity and plastic deformation of sandwich plates are discussed, while typical penetration failure modes and deformation mechanism are presented and analyzed. The failure modes of sandwich plates are different for hemisphere- and blunted-nosed projectile and the projectile shape influence is significant for ballistic performance when the penetration velocity approaches ballistic limit. The ballistic limit increases with increase of face-sheet or core thickness, core density and which shows an approximate linear relationship.

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Plastic packaging materials of laminated composites made of polymer cover sheets and a nonwoven interlayer

Journal of Sandwich Structures & Materials ◽

10.1177/1099636218795379 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 22 (7) ◽

pp. 2287-2301

Author(s):

Mei-Chen Lin ◽

Jia-Horng Lin ◽

Jan-Yi Lin ◽

Ting An Lin ◽

Ching-Wen Lou

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Laminated Composites ◽

Thermoplastic Polyurethane ◽

Soft Materials ◽

Packaging Materials ◽

Light Weight ◽

Plastic Packaging ◽

Crystal Stability ◽

High Toughness ◽

Sheet Extrusion

This study aims to improve the mechanical properties, stabilized structures, and light weight plastic packaging materials to realize diverse applications. A sheet extrusion machine is used to fabricate sandwich-structured composites, which are composed of two polymer cover sheets and a nonwoven interlayer. The samples are prepared in two batches with different cover sheets: thermoplastic polyurethane and polypropylene. Moreover, low-melting-point polyester (LMPET) fibers and Kevlar fibers are fabricated into a LMPET/Kevlar nonwoven interlayer. The laminated composites are evaluated in terms of morphologies, mechanical properties, combustion rates, and thermal behavior. Kevlar fibers are flame resistant and mechanically strong. LMPET fibers promote the interfacial bonding between layers. Thus, the laminated composites are good candidates as packaging materials, and they can be made with rigid or soft materials, depending on specified requirements. Rigid materials can provide higher strengths, and the distribution of fibers thus helps the PP-based laminated composites to obtain higher crystal stability. Moreover, using TPU with flexibility contributes to high extensibility, which grants the laminated composites with high toughness, light weight, and low restriction against the morphology. Such manufacturing is also efficient and economical, thereby satisfying the requirements of plastic packaging materials.

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Application of Two-Dimensional MoSe2 Atomic Layers to the Lift-Off Process for Producing Light-Weight and Flexible Bifacial Cu(In, Ga)Se2 Solar Cells

ACS Applied Energy Materials ◽

10.1021/acsaem.0c01557 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 3 (10) ◽

pp. 9504-9508 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Takahito Nishimura ◽

Naoto Hamada ◽

Jakapan Chantana ◽

Abdurashid Mavlonov ◽

Yu Kawano ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Solar Cells ◽

Light Weight ◽

Two Dimensional ◽

Lift Off

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Toughening of MDF - OPC Composites

MRS Proceedings ◽

10.1557/proc-211-239 ◽

1990 ◽

Vol 211 ◽

Author(s):

C. K. Park ◽

M. R. Silsbee ◽

D. M. Roy

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Properties ◽

Flexural Strength ◽

Portland Cement ◽

Polymer Composites ◽

Ordinary Portland Cement ◽

Fine Particles ◽

Fiber Type ◽

High Toughness ◽

Strength And Toughness

AbstractMacro-Defect-Free (MDF) materials are cement-polymer composites exhibiting high flexural strengths and high toughness (for cement based systems). The incorporation of fibers into MDF composites has been found to offer the possibility of increasing both the ultimate flexural strength and toughness of MDF materials prepared using an ordinary portland cement-polyacrylamide matrix.This paper examined the effect of fiber type and fine particles as a packing filler on the resulting mechanical properties. The incorporation of non-traditional materials (for MDF) into the MDF matrix is also discussed.

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