Ballistic Penetration Damage of Hybrid Thermoplastic Composites Reinforced with Kevlar and UHMWPE Fabrics

Abstract

Polymer matrix types of fiber hybrid composites are key factors to improve ballistic impact damage tolerances. Here we report ballistic penetration damages of Kevlar/ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene(UHMWPE)hybrid composites with thermoplastic polyurethane(PU)matrix. The hybrid composites were penetrated by fragment-simulating projectiles(FSPs)using an air gun impact system. The effects of stacking sequences on the ballistic performance of hybrid composites were analyzed. Two types of specific energy absorption(the energy absorption per unit area density and the energy absorption per unit thickness)were investigated. It was found that the main damage modes of PU hybrid composites were fiber breakage, matrix damage, fiber pullout and interlayer delamination. The instantaneous deformation could not be used as a reference index for evaluating the ballistic performance of the target plate. The energy absorption process of the PU hybrid composites showed a nonlinear pattern. The hybrid structure affected the specific energy absorption of the materials.

Keywords

polyurethane(PU) / Kevlar / ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene(UHMWPE) / hybrid composite / ballistic impact / specific energy absorption

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Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China(51875099)