Effect of lead metaborate as novel nanofiller on the ballistic impact behavior of Twaron® /epoxy composites

In the present work, lead metaborate nanoparticles (55 ± 10 nm) as a novel type of nano-fillers was used in order to increase the ballistic performance of aramid fabrics. The nanoparticles were synthesized by co-precipitation method and their dispersions were prepared with various polyethylene glycol (PEG) molecules and then were impregnated on Twaron® aramid fabrics. The ballistic panels were produced by a vacuum assisted resin transfer method using an epoxy system with treated and neat aramid fabrics. The ballistic impact resistance of the Twaron®/epoxy panels was determined according to the NIJ-STD-0108.01 standard. All panels were tested against 9 mm FMJ bullets with an impact speed of 390–400 m/s for armor application. The influence of the lead metaborates and/or silica as nano fillers on the energy dissipation capability and impact resistance of aramid fabrics was examined. It was observed that the samples impregnated with lead metaborate showed higher ballistic absorbed energy values than neat samples. The effect of lead metaborate on the energy absorption capacity of aramid/epoxy plates depends on PEG/nanoparticle mol ratio. Test results revealed that the aramid/epoxy laminates treated with dual phase containing nanosized lead metaborate and silica had high ballistic energy absorption values.