Fabrication of Compound Nonwoven Materials for Soft Body Armor

• NCJ Number: 236184
• Journal: Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 56 Issue: 5 Dated: September 2011 Pages: 1150-1155
• Author(s): Chia-Chang Lin, Ph.D.; Jia-Horng Lin, Ph.D.; Chun-Cheng Chang, M.Sc.
• Date Published: September 2011
• Length: 6 pages
• Contract Number(s): NSC 93-2212-E-035-024; NSC-94-2622-E-035-023-CC3
• Sponsoring Agency: National Science Council, Taiwan
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study introduced a material intended to reduce nonpenetration trauma by absorbing energy from ballistic impacts.

Abstract

The primary objective of body armor research is the development of low-cost, lightweight, wearable garments that effectively resist ballistic impact. This study introduces a material intended to reduce nonpenetration trauma by absorbing energy from ballistic impacts. Layers of web were made by low-melting point polyester (LMPET) on unaligned fibers of high-strength polyamide 6 (HSPA6). A compound nonwoven fabric was made by laying high-strength Vectran filaments between two layers of HSPA6-LMPET web. The new fabric underwent needle punching and thermal bonding to form a composite sandwich structure. The new fabric was subjected to a falling weight impact test and a ballistic impact test. The results indicated that the material with the new design reduced maximum indentation depth by 8 percent. Furthermore, soft body armor made from the material with the new design would cost less to produce and would weigh 22.5 percent less than conventional soft body armor. (Published Abstract)