The impact of boron carbide in soft and hard body armor: A comprehensive evaluation on Kevlar and UHMWPE fabrics
POLYMER COMPOSITES(2024)
Abstract
In this research, an investigation was conducted to ascertain the impact of boron carbide (B4C) microparticles on soft and hard armor configurations, utilizing two distinct high-performance fabrics namely, Kevlar and Ultra-high Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE), also this work discerned the optimal fabric for protection against dagger attacks and 9 mm full metal jacket (FMJ) projectiles. Initially, rheological tests on four shear thickening fluid (STF) samples revealed that 70% of nano-silicate (SiO2) content was the optimal ratio. Besides, scanning electronic microscope (SEM) tests showed that B4C affected the nano-silicate dispersion. Hence, the use of STF as a matrix, led to complete protection in low-velocity stab test and behavior improvement when subjected to NIJ ballistic test for both fabric types. On the other hand, the dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) of the thermosetting epoxy resin-based composites reinforced by B4C indicated that the 10% ratio offered maximum rigidity, resulting in improved ballistic performance. This study revealed that Kevlar fabrics exhibit superior behavior in soft protection, while UHMWPE hard composite display further rigidity against high-velocity impacts. Overall, this work contributes novel insights into the efficiency of B4C integration within soft and hard armor configurations using two ballistic fabrics, highlighting their performance characteristics in ballistic shielding.
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Key words
ballistic performance,boron carbide,epoxy,hard armor,soft armor,STF
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