Ballistic Performance of Mallow and Jute Natural Fabrics Reinforced Epoxy Composites in Multilayered Armor

Natural fiber reinforced polymer composites have recently been investigated as a component of multilayered armor system (MAS). These composites were found to present advantages when replacing conventional high strength synthetic aramid fabric laminate composite (Kevlar (TM), with same thickness, as MAS second layer. Continuous and loose natural fibers were up to now mostly used to reinforce these ballistic composites. Only two natural fabrics reinforced polymer composite were so far used with same purpose. Therefore, this work investigated the possibility of substituting Kevlar (TM) for three other natural fabrics, based on mallow and jute fibers, as reinforcement of epoxy composites. Fabrics made of either pure mallow, or 70% mallow/30% jute or 50%mallow/50% jute fibers were separately mixed with epoxy to produce laminate composite plates. These plates were set as second layer of Al2O3/Nb2O5 front ceramic MAS, that were ballistic tested against relatively high energy 7.62 mm ammunition. Indentation depth values caused by the bullet penetration in clay witness, simulating human body behind the MAS, were always found to be below the safety standard limit. These indentation values were similar to those obtained in MAS with Kevlar (TM) as second layer. However, significant economical advantages favor the investigated natural fabric composites over the synthetic Kevlar.