Honeywell International Inc.

Performance Fibers, Inc.

David A Hurst

Ashok Bhatnagar

Brian Duane Arvidson

Lori L Wagner

Henry Gerard Ardiff

Thomas Yiu-Tai Tam

John Armstrong Young

Ralf Klein

Brian H Waring

Bradley L Grunden

Gary Kratzer

Henry G Ardiff

Charles Arnett

Tyler Bartelt

David Andrew Steenkamer

Ronnie Moore

Robert C Ramsdell

Mark Tallent

Gregory A Davis

Steven Thomas Correale

Duane R Prior

Sameer Agrawal

Harold Lindley Murray, Jr

Dalia Taylor

Terry S Chern

Chok Bin C Tan

Danelle Powers

Carolyn S Westmark

Craig A Trask

Tony L Giovannetti

Lin Murray

Danelle F Powers

Bradley Grunden

Brian Waring

Bin C Tan Chok

Ballistic resistant composite materials having high positive buoyancy in water are provided. More particularly, provided are foam-free, buoyant composite materials fabricated using dry processing techniques. The materials comprise fibrous plies that are partially coated with a particulate binder that is thermopressed to transform a portion of the binder into raised, discontinuous patches bonded to fiber/tape surfaces, while another portion of the particulate binder remains on the fibers/tapes as unmelted particles. The presence of the unmelted binder particles maintains empty spaces within the composite materials which increases the positive buoyancy of the composites in water.

High buoyancy composite materials

A method for improving the translation efficiency of fiber strength into composite strength is provided. A single unidirectional tape, single unidirectional fiber web or a stack of unidirectional web/unidirectional tape plies formed from partially oriented fibers/tapes is primed under mild conditions followed by subjecting the primed plies to an axial extension stress in the axial fiber direction of each fiber ply by passage through a compression apparatus. The axial extension stress extends the fibers, strengthening them, while also compacting the plies together and thereby forming a composite having improved strength. Production yield is improved by avoiding maximal fiber stretching and thereby avoiding typical manufacturing loss, and low weight composite armor having increased strength is achieved.

Ballistic translation efficiency of high performance fibers

Multi-ply, hybrid composite materials useful in the formation of thin walled, hollow, tubular articles having improved resistance to hoop stress. Two different, single-ply pre-pregs are impregnated with binders and laminated together with the fibers of the layers oriented at a bias relative to each other. The hybrid composite is rolled into a tubular article having excellent strength uniformity along the full length of the tubular article.

Hybrid fiber multi-axial prepreg

Fabrication of ballistic resistant fibrous composites having improved ballistic resistance properties. More particularly, ballistic resistant fibrous composites having high interlaminar lap shear strength between component fiber plies or fiber layers, which correlates to low composite backface signature. The high lap shear strength, low backface signature composites are useful for the production of hard armor articles, including helmet armor.

High lap shear strength, low back face signature UD composite and the process of making

Viscoelastic, lightweight composite armor that is resistant to backface deformation, and to a method for evaluating the effectiveness of composite armor in resisting backface deformation. The index of retraction of a composite is determined by evaluating the degree of composite retraction at the site of impact of projectile after movement of the projectile is stopped. The degree of retraction indicates the ability of the composite to resist backface deformation.

High kinetic energy absorption with low back face deformation ballistic composites

Composite materials combining both high and low strength fibrous materials. More particularly, composite materials that are useful as lightweight vest covers for tactical vests and that are suitable for the formation of alternatives to conventional Modular Lightweight Load-carrying Equipment (MOLLE).

Composite fabrics combining high and low strength materials

Ballistic resistant materials and articles formed from fiber/tape plies that incorporate multiple different fiber or tape types within a single ply. The different fiber or tape types are physically dissimilar but may be chemically different or substantially chemically similar.

Hybrid fiber unidirectional tape and composite laminates

Fabrication of ballistic resistant fibrous composites having improved ballistic resistance properties. More particularly, ballistic resistant fibrous composites having enhanced a dynamic storage modulus, which correlates to low composite backface signature.

Rigid structural and low back face signature ballistic UD/articles and method of making

Fabrication of ballistic resistant fibrous composites having improved ballistic resistance properties. More particularly, ballistic resistant fibrous composites having enhanced flexural properties, which correlates to low composite backface signature. The composites are useful for the production of hard armor articles, including helmet armor.

Rigid structure UHMWPE UD and composite and the process of making

A method of making a ballistic resistant composite material having improved resistance to high energy rifle bullets and the like. The method comprises providing at least one fibrous layer comprising a network of high tenacity aramid fibers. The fibrous layer is coated with a thermoplastic polyurethane resin. The coated fibrous layer is molded at a pressure of at least about 1,500 psi (10.3 MPa). Preferably, a plurality of fibrous layers are employed, each of which is formed from to unidirectionally oriented aramid fibers in a thermoplastic polyurethane resin matrix. Adjacent fibrous layers are preferably oriented at 90&#xb0; with respect to each other.

Method of making improved ballistic products

An apparatus and method are provided for evaluating the backface signature of flat panel ballistic resistant composites with accuracy, repeatability and improved correlation to the expected backface signature of shaped ballistic resistant composites in actual field use. The apparatus separates the composite from a clay backing material with a suitable spacer so that the bulk of the backface deformation is inside an air gap space with minimal clay disturbance, thereby eliminating conventional testing error and producing an accurate test result.

Apparatus and method to measure back face signature of armor

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Richmond, VA, United States of America

David A Hurst