A Comprehensive Guide to Materials Used In Vehicle Ballistic Protection

In recent years the need for ballistic protection for armored cars has risen with improvements in military vehicle ballistic protection, and military ballistic protection for commercial use armor. Likewise, as the intensity of threats increased, the types and efficiency of the available materials in providing added protection have also diversified. In this article, the most important materials applied to the vehicle ballistic protection are described — the new fibrous composited for the ballistic protection, the recent trends of lightweight ballistic armouring, etc. It is necessary to know about these vehicle armor protection levels and effects of such material for industries that are interested in security and durability.

1. Understanding Ballistic Protection and Its Levels

Ballistic protection levels speak of the extent of protection offered against certain projectiles by a material or armor. Various organizations as well as testing standards define them based on some characteristics that include the speed at which the projectile moves, force that is exerted by the projectile and the caliber of the projectile. Hence, in bulletproof automobiles and armored military automobiles, these standards have to be achieved so as to get appropriate level of protection against different threats.

Different tiers for the vehicle armor protection are designed for different purposes. Lower levels may be possible for civilian car application while high levels are possible in military vehicle ballistic protection. The key player in the ballistic protection for the armored vehicles has been headed by RUAG, a major defense firm, which has strived to evolve materials as well as test procedures to respond to these levels.

2. Key Materials Used in Vehicle Ballistic Protection

The materials applied in the vehicle armor do differ since each offers unique characteristics based on its application and protective measure to be provided. Here’s an in-depth look at the most common materials:

Carbon Fiber

It is said that carbon fiber possesses high strength along with lightweight properties. And it has been applied in ballistic control due to its high strength to weight ratio. However, being lightweight in structure, carbon fiber is well suited for lightweight ballistic armouring applications. While not as effective by itself to stop high velocity objects/Projectiles, it is commonly a second layer that when combined with another material make a layered composite that offers more stopping power.

If incorporated with other materials such as ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) or-high strength steel alloy the carbon fiber layers offer enhanced strength and flexibility to the armor configuration thereby enhancing the structural strength of bullet proof vehicles without the need for extra weight to hinder mobility.

High-Strength Steel Alloys

High-strength steel alloys (HSS) has been traditionally associated with body armor production because of its high durability and reliability in civilian vehicle ballistic protection Original from military ballistic protection, armor protected military and civilian vehicles.

These alloys possess both high durability and high resistance so that they can effectively take and distribute the force of a blow; therefore they are a crucial ingredient in the higher ballistic protection levels.

However, HSSs are usually heavy — that is why HSSs are sometimes used selectively, or reinforced by lighter structural members, for example, fiber composite materials to provide ballistic protection. The overall weight v protection issue remains a problem, but new alloy developments have rendered steel as a viable option, even for applications, where weight saving is paramount such as amoration fabrics.

Ultra-High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE)

Ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) is a synthetic or manmade material that has quickly found its way into used in such application as material used for protection of bodies of individuals and vehicles. UHMWPE is quite effective to ballistic impacts and has a reputation of an efficient energy müller. As a projectile impacts on UHMWPE, the fibres within this material inhibit the penetration of the projectile by dissipating the force.

In bulletproof vehicles and in soldiers’ protective clothing as well as in various levels of ballistic protection of civilian vehicles, UHMWPE is either used as a base material or in conjunction with other materials. Due to its small mass, it is especially desirable for those areas where portability and mass are the key factors — for example, in creating lightweight protective equipment, or bulletproof vests. Due to its peculiar properties, UHMWPE is gradually taking a prestigious position in the fibrous composite materials, used for ballistic shields.

3. Research Progress in Armor Protection Materials

Armor protection materials research has continued to target the highest protection levels, material weight, and product costs. Current investigations track the efficiency of blended materials that integrate carbon fiber, high strength steel alloys and UHMWPE. This hybrid design approach helps the armor designers to reap the full advantages from each material.

Other areas researched include more enhanced fibrous composite materials for ballistic protection whose goals focus on more flexibility and impact strength. This has brought new and lighter weight but very effective armoring material important for gun turrets and other weak points of armored vehicles……. Know More

Explore Full Article: https://www.defence-industries.com/articles/a-comprehensive-guide-to-materials-vehicle-ballistic-protection

Kate Williamson More about AuthorKate, Editorial Team