Glass fabric reinforced polybenzoxazine composites filled with nanosilica: A High impact response poises use as strike panels in multilayered armor applications

Glass fabric reinforced polybenzoxazine-based composites filled with nanosilica (nano-SiO2) particles were used to create strike panels for multilayered armor applications. The effect of the added nano-SiO2 on the mechanical properties and ballistic impact responses of the composites was quantified using a variety of techniques and related to the interfacial interactions between the two materials. Impact response was effectively mitigated by the added nano-SiO2 as composite panels which contained the additive exhibited smaller damage areas as well as lower penetration depths after being subjected to 5.56 x 45 mm projectiles when compared to composite panels that lacked the additive. Furthermore, a series of numerical simulations predicted that composites of appropriate thickness should protect against the penetration of projectiles with velocities of 930 +/- 20 m/s and ballistic limit velocities as high as 1075 m/s. Collectively, these results indicate that the composites may be used as strike panels in ballistic armor applications. (C) 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V.