Fiber-reinforced PC/ABS composite for light weight ballistic armor

Abstract

This research aims to develop light weight ballistic armor by using Kevlar-reinforced PC/ABS composite. It has been known that optimal interaction between polymer matrix and its reinforcement plays a crucial role in its mechanical behavior such as impact properties. At present, the matrix development for reinforcing fiber particularly in the ballistic composite application is scarcely investigated because the restriction in the lack of tailor-made properties of the matrix itself. Many researchers disclosed various properties of PC/ABS which can be fine-tuned to acquire desired properties by, for example, adjusting the blending ratios between the PC and the ABS. This investigation emphasized on the effect of PC/ABS blend compositions on their blend properties as well as the ballistic efficiency of their composites. The DSC thermograms of PC/ABS blends exhibited two Tg’s of the PC-rich and ABS-rich phases. The glass transition temperatures of each component were observed to shift towards each other possibly as a result of their partial miscibility. From the mechanical property investigation of the blends, the elastic modulus of these PC/ABS blends exhibited synergistic behavior giving the ultimate modulus value within the blend compositional range of 40 – 60 wt% of the PC. It was also found that the composites with 40/60 mass ratio of the PC/ABS matrix exhibited the highest ballistic efficiency in comparison with other blend compositions. The flexural modulus of the composite with highest ballistic resistance was about 10-13 GPa with an average areal density of 0.23 g/cm² in a 10 piles/panel composite. Additionally, at least 50 piles of the Kevlar cloth in the composite panel were found to be sufficient to protect ballistic impact penetration of the ammunition at a relatively high level of NIJ class IIIA.