Evaluation of the ballistic protection level of (glass-fiber reinforced polyamide 6)-aramid fabric sandwich composite panels
Juan C. Farias-Aguilar, Margarita J. Ramírez-Moreno, Dulce María González-García, Lucía Téllez-Jurado, Heberto Balmori‐Ramírez
Abstract
The use of polymer matrix composite materials in the armor industry has rapidly increased. In the present work, the ballistic efficiency of body armor manufactured using a polymer-based composite, with a laminar configuration, was tested. For the composite, a synthesized polyamide 6 reinforced with 37% weight of fiberglass (GF) and an aramid fabric, were used. The laminar configuration of the composite, like a sandwich form with a size of 30 cm × 30 cm, was made with two panels of composite material (PA6 + 37 wt % GF) and an intermediate aramid fabric layer. It was tested in ballistic environments with available firearms. The results showed that the manufactured body armor prevents the penetration of a 9 mm bullet enabling its potential use as an urban armor level III-A, according to NIJ-Standard-0101.04. However, after testing with weapons larger than 9 mm in caliber, it was permanently deformed (5.56 mm and 7.62 mm weapons), which is why the level IV is not recommended.