Abstract: A composite article having blast and ballistic resistance suitable for helmets, personal protection and hard armor applications comprises a high-strain hardening elastomeric layer and a layer of continuous yarns having a tenacity of 15 grams per dtex and a modulus of at least 500 grams per dtex or an oriented polyethylene sheet layer having a modulus ten times greater in one direction than in another direction.

Abstract: A fiber reinforced resin composite for ballistic protection comprising a plurality of first and second plies wherein the first and second plies further comprise a woven fabric and a polymeric resin. The fabric has a Russell tightness factor of from 0.2 to 0.7 and a cover factor of at least 0.45, The fabric is impregnated with the resin, the resin comprising from 5 to 30 weight percent of the total weight of fabric plus resin. The fabric of each first and second ply comprises regions wherein the fabric is distorted from an orthogonal woven state by a distortion angle of least 30 degrees. The composite may further comprising a third ply having a surface area no greater than 50% of the surface area of a first and second ply. The ratio of the number of first plus second plies to the number of third plies is from 2:1 to 12:1.

Abstract: A composite article having blast and ballistic resistance suitable for helmets, personal protection and hard armor applications comprises a high-strain hardening elastomeric layer and a layer of continuous yarns having a tenacity of 15 grams per dtex and a modulus of at least 500 grams per dtex or an oriented polyethylene sheet layer having a modulus ten times greater in one direction than in another direction.

Abstract: A fiber reinforced resin composite for ballistic protection comprising a plurality of first and second plies wherein the first and second plies further comprise a woven fabric and a polymeric resin. The fabric has a Russell tightness factor of from 0.2 to 0.7 and a cover factor of at least 0.45, The fabric is impregnated with the resin, the resin comprising from 5 to 30 weight percent of the total weight of fabric plus resin. The fabric of each first and second ply comprises regions wherein the fabric is distorted from an orthogonal woven state by a distortion angle of least 30 degrees. The composite may further comprising a third ply having a surface area no greater than 50% of the surface area of a first and second ply. The ratio of the number of first plus second plies to the number of third plies is from 2:1 to 12:1.

Abstract: Ballistic composite articles comprising a fabric section, an overlay section disposed on the strikeface of the composite article and comprising a thermoplastic resin, and optionally an adhesive layer disposed between the fabric section and the overlay section are described. The ballistic composite articles can provide comparable or improved protection against projectile threats relative to conventional ballistic composites consisting only of a same-type fabric section having comparable area density, as evidenced by comparable V50 values and/lower backface deformation values when tested under the same conditions.

Abstract: A fiber reinforced resin composite for ballistic protection comprising a plurality of first and second plies wherein the first and second plies further comprise a woven fabric and a polymeric resin. The fabric has a Russell tightness factor of from 0.2 to 0.7 and a cover factor of at least 0.45, The fabric is impregnated with the resin, the resin comprising from 5 to 30 weight percent of the total weight of fabric plus resin. The fabric of each first and second ply comprises regions wherein the fabric is distorted from an orthogonal woven state by a distortion angle of least 30 degrees. The composite may further comprising a third ply having a surface area no greater than 50% of the surface area of a first and second ply. The ratio of the number of first plus second plies to the number of third plies is from 2:1 to 12:1.

Abstract: This invention covers a method of manufacturing a composite laminate comprising the steps of (a) cutting a plurality of ply shapes from prepreg sheet stock, (b) stacking, in the desired order, the prepreg ply shapes to form a subassembly of from 2 to 8 cut plies, the subassembly further comprising at least 2 different ply shapes, (c) pre-consolidating the subassembly under heat and pressure to form a semi-rigid preform, (d) assembling a plurality of semi-rigid preforms into a mold, and (e) consolidating the plurality of preforms under heat and pressure to form a cured composite laminate. The prepreg plies further comprise from 70 to 92% by weight of a fabric made from continuous yarn having a tenacity of at least 20 grams per dtex and a modulus of at least 550 grams per dtex, and from 8 to 30% by weight of a thermoplastic matrix copolymer blend. The composite laminate is particularly useful as an anti-ballistic hard armor laminate in articles such as helmets and other hard armor products.