Abstract: A ballistic composite laminate exemplified by a panel incorporating resin impregnated, heat and pressure bonded, fabric layers of high tensile strength "S" glass roving filaments on its backside extending through approximately one-half its thickness with the remainder of its thickness on the face side of the laminate formed of appreciably lower cost fabric layers of "E" glass filaments, which meet acceptance according to military ballistic acceptance tests substantially matching higher cost panels reinforced with fabrics of 100% "S" glass filaments.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing shipping rolls of wrinkle free ballistics type film faced composite sheet material which when assembled and cured on a shipping tube is subject to having surface wrinkles and creases. By assembling the material on a forming roll of large diameter, such that the thickness of the wound wraps of a given length of the sheet material is relatively thin, the deformation of each wrap is minimized during heat and compression curing and the cured material is free of surface wrinkles and creases. The cure-stabilized material then can be unwound and cut to desired length and wound on a small diameter shipping tube to provide a shipping package of material free of wrinkles and creases. The curing apparatus includes a cylinder with an internally lined inflatable bladder, such cylinder being adaptable to being moved into surrounding relation with the sheet material.

Abstract: A method and means for producing disks of tightly packed on-end aligned fibers wherein side-by-side filament tows are surrounded and pulled by a Chinese-finger type gripper sleeve which tightens about the tows and compacts the filaments as it is pulled. The gripper sleeve and filament assembly is further compacted by being pulled through a draw-down die and into a tube surrounded by a backup casing. The highly compacted mass of filaments with the surrounding portion of the sleeve within the tube are cut free from the external portion of the portion of the puller sleeve and the loaded tube is removed from the casing. A plurality of disks of predetermined thickness containing the desired highly compacted on-end aligned fibers are then formed by cross-sectionally cutting the filament loaded tube segment by segment.