Ballistic Efficiency of an Individual Epoxy Composite Reinforced with Sisal Fibers in Multilayered Armor

Abstract

Sisal fibers are among the natural lignocellulosic ones with great impact resistance for potential use in polymer composites. This work evaluates the ballistic efficiency of the distinct individual components of a multilayered armor. These include the front ceramic, the back metallic sheet and the intermediate layer as either the conventional aramid fabric or a novel sisal fiber reinforced epoxy composite. Sisal fibers incorporated in epoxy resin plates with volume fraction of 30% were ballistic tested using the 7.62 caliber ammunition. The fibers were embedded under pressure in the epoxy resin matrix and cured at room temperature for 24 hours. The tested specimens were examined by scanning electron microscopy.

Ballistic Application of Coir Fiber Reinforced Epoxy Composite in Multilayered Armor

“…7(a) the small white particles of ceramic covering the fracture surface. This is an indication of a mechanism associated with the capture of fragments from the front ceramic, as previously reported for other natural fiber composites as MAS second layer [13][14][15][16][17][18] . Evidence of coir fiber pullout is depicted in Fig 7 (b).…”

“…In principle, the recognized mechanisms are stretching, delamination and rupture of fibers [13][14][15][16][17][18] . However, another efficient mechanism of energy dissipation is the capture of fragments resulting from the shatter of the first layer 27 .…”

“…Therefore, new materials are being investigated to attend both ballistic performance and economical market advantage. Polymer based composites reinforced with natural fibers have been ballistic tested as possible application in armors [10][11][12][13][14][15][16] . Recently the use of natural fabrics, fabricated from lignocellulosic fibers, as polymer composite reinforcement to be applied in MAS second layer was investigated 17,18 .…”

Ballistic Performance of Mallow and Jute Natural Fabrics Reinforced Epoxy Composites in Multilayered Armor

“…In particular, investigations on the ballistic performance of natural fiber composites are, since 2001, also following this tendency [15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23] . More recently, specific works [18][19][20][21][22][23] were published on the ballistic performance of natural fibers reinforced polymeric composites. The ballistic performance was evaluated in standard tests 24 against high energy 7.62 mm ammunition by measuring the depth of indentation produced in clay witness simulating a human body behind the MAS.…”

“…Curaua 20,23 , bamboo 19 and sisal 21 fibers composites were tested as components of a multilayered system (MAS) with a front ceramic Other works on MAS and related mechanisms of ballistic protection have been presented since last decade [25][26] . In addition to loose and continuous natural fibers in the composite [19][20][21][22] , natural fabrics, made of jute 18 and ramie 22 fibers, reinforced polymer matrix composites were also similarly investigated. All these specific works concluded that natural fiber or natural fabric composites present a ballistic performance comparable to the conventional aramid fabric laminate composite…”