Body armor of ceramic ball embedded polymer

• US 20120312150A1
• Filed: 03/09/2012
• Published: 12/13/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: the united states of america as represented by the secretary of the navy
• Original Assignee: United States Govemment As Represented By The Secretary of The Navy
• Inventors: Gamache, Raymond M., Roland, C. Michael
• Application Number:
  US13/506,376
• Publication Number:
  US 20120312150A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 89/36.02
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 5/0492 Layered armour containing hard elements, e.g. plates, spheres, rods, separated from each other, the elements being connected to a further flexible layer or being embedded in a plastics or an elastomer matrix

Abstract

A body armor composite material is provided to protect a wearer from small-arms projectiles. The material includes a flexible liner, a polymer binder disposed on the liner, and ceramic solids embedded in the binder. The flexible liner conforms to a portion of the wearer and elastically deforms in response to application of mechanical force. The binder can be a polyurea foam. The solids can be spheres arranged in a single-layer pattern substantially parallel to liner.

Claims

1. A body armor composite material for protecting a wearer from small- arms projectiles and shrapnel, said material comprising:

a flexible liner that conforms to a portion of the wearer and elastically deforms in response to application of mechanical force;

a polymer binder disposed on said flexible liner; and

a plurality of ceramic solids embedded within said polymer binder, said plurality arranged in a single-layer pattern substantially parallel to said liner.

2. The body armor according to claim 1, wherein said ceramic solids are spherical.

3. The body armor according to claim 2, wherein said ceramic solids are between ⅜

″ and

¾

″

in diameter.

4. The body armor according to claim 1, wherein said ceramic solids are composed of at least one of aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃), silicon carbide (SiC), boron carbide (B₄C), boron nitride (BN), silicon nitride (Si₃N₄), and zirconium oxide (ZrO₂).

5. The body armor according to claim 1, wherein said ceramic solids are composed substantially of aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃).

6. The body armor according to claim 1, wherein said pattern is a hexagonal close packed geometric arrangement in which each non-edge solid has six neighboring solid that share a common plane.

7. The body armor according to claim 1, wherein said binder is a polyurea foam.

8. The body armor according to claim 1, wherein said binder is a polyurethane foam.

9. The body armor according to claim 1, wherein said binder is a rubber foam.

10. The body armor according to claim 1, wherein said binder is an isocyanate foam.

11. The body armor according to claim 1, wherein said binder is between ⅜

″ and

¾

″

in thickness.

12. The body armor according to claim 1, wherein said liner comprises a weave of aramid fibers.

13. The body armor according to claim 12, wherein said aramid fibers are composed of Kevlar®

.

14. The body armor according to claim 1, wherein said liner is a weave of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers.

15. The body armor according to claim 14, wherein said UHMWPE fibers are composed of Dyneema®

fiber.

16. The body armor according to claim 14, wherein said UHMWPE fibers are composed of Spectra®

yarn.

17. A body armor composite material for protecting a wearer from small- arms projectiles and shrapnel, said material comprising:

a flexible liner that conforms to a portion of the wearer and elastically deforms in response to application of mechanical force;

a polymer binder disposed on said flexible liner;

a plurality of balls, each said ball being embedded within said polymer binder, said plurality being arranged in a single-layer pattern substantially parallel to said liner, wherein each said ball comprises;

a ceramic solid, and

a high-tensile-strength fiber that securely wraps around said ceramic solid to produce said ball.

18. The body armor according to claim 17, wherein said fiber is composed of an aramid.

19. The body armor according to claim 17, wherein said fiber is composed of UHMWPE.

20. The body armor according to claim 17, wherein each said ceramic solid is composed substantially of aluminum oxide (Al₂O₃).