Development of armored products made from multilayer composite plates

Introduction. Modern requirements for personal and local armor protection dictate the creation of lightweight, durable, and efficient materials that can withstand a variety of threats, including shrapnel and low-velocity bullets. Conventional metal armor panels, while reliable, have a significant weight that limits their use. At the same time, ceramic materials, although they provide a high level of protection, are prone to the formation of secondary fragments upon impact. In this regard, composite materials such as aramid fibers and ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), which combine low weight with high strength and resistance to dynamic loads, are of particular interest. The article discusses the development of multilayer plates made from composite materials for personal and light armor protection. Methods and materials. Multilayer structures, including UHMWPE and aramid fabrics, were used to create armor plates. These structures were impregnated with epoxy resin and bioadditives such as collagen. The paper proposes a technology for the production of multilayer plates using aramid fabric and bioadditives. The technological process consisted of several steps: 1) a comprehensive study of the selected polymer materials with experimental determination of rigidity and strength characteristics; 2) cutting the fabric using a laser machine; 3) manufacturing an armor plate depending on the material and the loads subjected to it. Composite plates made from UHMWPE were created through hot molding using a press mold, and they consist of varying numbers of material layers. Multilayer elements (up to 30 layers) were made from aramid fabric with epoxy resin with bioadditives, which impart new elastoplastic properties to the material. Results. The ANSYS software package was used to calculate the strength of a multilayer composite plate under shock loading; field testing of the obtained plates as armor protection were also conducted, demonstrating good agreement with the calculations. Discussion. The obtained combined armor plates are highly effective in absorbing kinetic energy and preventing fragment penetration. Adding bioadditives to the epoxy matrix increased the interlayer defect zone, which contributed to the dissipation of impact energy. According to the authors, when adding bioadditives, the material acquires high fracture toughness. Conclusion (Findings). The developed armor plates offer a combination of low weight, no ricochets, and minimal deformation behind the barrier. This makes them promising for use in personal and local protective equipment. The use of bioadditives has improved the mechanical properties of the composite materials, and the test results confirm that the products comply with the Br3 protection grade, with a weight reduction of 25–30% compared to the analogues. The resulting products (low weight, absence of ricochet and traumatic consequences after impact) make them suitable for use as protection against shrapnel and pistol bullets.