Ballistic-resistant article

• US 4,457,985 A
• Filed: 02/18/1983
• Issued: 07/03/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1982
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Allied Corp. (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Allied Corp. (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Kavesh, Sheldon, Palley, Igor, Harpell, Gary A., Prevorsek, Dusan C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bell, James J.
• Application Number:
  US06/466,496
• Time in Patent Office: 501 Days
• Field of Search: 428/224, 428/229, 428/911
• US Class Current: 442/301
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/062 with reinforcing means
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2255/02 on fibrous or filamentary layer
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2255/26 Polymeric coating
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2262/0253 Polyolefin fibres
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2571/02 defensive, e.g. armour plates or anti-ballistic clothing
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/32 comprising polyolefins comprising vinyl (co)polymers or acrylic (co)polymers B32B27/30
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 5/26 another layer next to it also being fibrous or filamentary relative arrangement of fibres or filaments of different layers B32B5/12
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 5/0478 Fibre- or fabric-reinforced layers in combination with plastics layers
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 5/0485 all the layers being only fibre- or fabric-reinforced layers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 428/911 Penetration resistant layer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 442/3976 Including strand which is stated to have specific attributes [e.g., heat or fire resistance, chemical or solvent resistance, high absorption for aqueous composition, water solubility, heat shrinkability, etc.]

Abstract

Articles such as vests, helmets and structural elements containing a network of ultrahigh molecular weight, high strength, high modulus polyethylene or polypropylene fibers. The fibers, and especially polyethylene fibers of 15, 20, 25, 30 or more g/denier tenacity, and 300, 500, 1,000, 1,500 or more g/denier tensile modulus impart exceptional ballistic resistance to the articles in spite of the melting points, e.g. 145°-151° C. for the polyethylene fibers and 168°-171° C. for the polypropylene fibers, which are high for these polymers, but substantially lower than the 200° C. or more melting point previously thought necessary for good ballistic resistance.

Claims

1. A ballistic-resistant article of manufacture comprising a flexible network of polyolefin fibers having, in the case of polyethylene fibers, a weight average molecular weight of at least about 500,000, a tensile modulus of at least about 300 g/denier and a tenacity of at least about 15 g/denier, and in the case of polypropylene fibers, a weight average molecular weight of at least about 750,000, a tensile modulus of at least about 160 g/denier and a tenacity of at least about 8 g/denier, said fibers being formed into a network of sufficient thickness to absorb the energy of a projectile.

2. The ballistic-resistant article of claim 1 wherein said polyethylene fibers have a tenacity of at least about 25 g/denier.

3. The ballistic-resistant article of claim 2 wherein said polyethylene fibers have a tenacity of at least about 30 g/denier.

4. The ballistic-resistant article of claim 2 wherein said polyethylene fibers have a tensile modulus of at least about 1,000 g/denier.

5. The ballistic-resistant articles of claim 2 wherein said polyethylene fibers have a tensile modulus of at least about 1,500 g/denier.

6. The ballistic-resistant article of claim 1 comprising a fabric.

7. The ballistic-resistant article of claim 6 wherein said fabric has been heat set.

8. The ballistic-resistant article of claim 6 wherein said fabric has been subjected to heat and pressure.

9. The ballistic-resistant article of claim 1 wherein said ballistic-resistant article is a flexible network of said polyethylene fibers that has been subjected to heat and pressure.

10. The ballistic-resistant article of claim 1 consisting essentially of a flexible network of said polyolefin fibers that has been subjected to heat and pressure.

11. The ballistic-resistant article of claim 1 comprising a fabric.

12. The ballistic-resistant article of claim 11 wherein said fabric has been subjected to heat and pressure.

13. The ballistic-resistant article of claim 1 wherein said ballistic-resistant article is a flexible network of said polyethylene fibers that has been subjected to heat and pressure.

14. The ballistic-resistant article claim 13 wherein said polyethylene fibers have a tenacity of at least about 15 g/denier.

15. The ballistic-resistant article of claim 14 wherein said polyethylene fibers have tenacity of at least about 30 g/denier.

16. The ballistic-resistant article of claim 14 wherein said polyethylene fibers have a tensile modulus of at least about 1,000 g/denier.