Abstract: A system for detection of a potentially irradiated object utilizing oxygen-17 (17O) quantities in a local atmosphere contacting the potentially irradiated object. The local atmosphere comprises nitrogen-14 (14N) and is typically air. The 17O quantity in the local atmosphere is determined through sampling using mass spectroscopy, nuclear resonance magnetic imaging, gas chromatography, or some other method. The 17O quantity in the local atmosphere is compared to a baseline quantity of 17O and deviations are treated as an indicator that a nuclear reaction converting 14N to 17O has occurred or is occurring. Typically the local atmosphere is isolated to some degree from an external atmosphere via some type of enclosure or container, and the external atmosphere provides the baseline quantity of 17O used for the comparison.

Abstract: A body armor composite material is provided to protect a wearer from small-arms projectiles. The material includes a flexible liner, a polymer binder disposed on the liner, and ceramic balls embedded in the binder. The flexible liner conforms to a portion of the wearer and elastically deforms in response to application of mechanical force.

Abstract: Composite armor and armor systems according to the invention incorporate substrates that delay and reduce compressive waves associated with impacts from reflecting off of the back surface of ceramic front face armor as tensile waves, which may damage or destroy the front face armor material. The composite armor and armor systems incorporating syntactic substrates and backed by a high strength fiber backing exhibit increased mass efficiency and reduced blunt force trauma resulting from ballistic impacts.

Abstract: A lightweight armor system providing blast protection and ballistic protection against small arms fire, suitable for use in helmets, personnel or vehicle protection, and other armor systems. A hard substrate is coated on the front surface with a thin elastomeric polymer layer, in which hollow ceramic or metal spheres are encapsulated. The coating layer having a thin elastomeric polymer layer with encapsulated metal or ceramic hollow spheres can be stand-alone blast protection, or can be added to an underlying structure. The glass transition temperature of the polymer is preferably between negative fifty Celsius and zero Celsius.

Abstract: A method and resulting composition made by: providing boron carbide and a dopant selected from silicon, aluminum, magnesium, and beryllium; and ball milling the boron carbide with the dopant until at least one out of fifteen of the boron and/or carbon atoms of the boron carbide are substituted with the dopant.

Abstract: A front-facing armor system utilizing a composite laminate backed by a high hardness substrate. The composite laminate comprises a series of first and second layers. The first layer of the bi-layer laminate system is a polymer with a density of at least 1.8 g/cm3 and having both an amorphous and crystalline phase, and having phase transformation pressure of at least 0.5 GPa at a temperature of 20° C. The second layer of each bi-layer provides acoustic impedance mismatch to generate reflections of the incident compression wave following ballistic impact. Under ballistic impact, the polymer comprising the armor system undergoes a shock-induced transition resulting in a marked change in microstructure and mechanical behavior, providing a significant kinetic energy absorption mechanism.

Abstract: An armor system with a composite laminate having at least four alternating layers (two bi-layers) of a first material and a second material, the first material having a lower acoustic impedance than the second material. The first material is an elastomer and the second material can be a hard material such as steel, aluminum, or ceramic, or an elastomer with a higher acoustic impedance than the first material. The laminate can include many alternating layers of the first and second materials, and can be adhered or affixed to a thicker armor substrate. Additional protective elements such as corrugated metal-ceramic panels and armored glass cylinders can be added to improve resistance to armor piercing rounds, explosively formed penetrators, or other threats.

Abstract: A system, method, and helmet includes a collection optic configured to collect light from a scene and create an image; a fiber optic bundle configured to receive the image from the collection optic; an opaque ballistic face shield configured adjacent to the fiber optic bundle; and a projection optic configured to receive the image from the fiber optic bundle and project the image to a viewer. The collection optic includes a field of view (FOV) of greater than 30 degrees, and preferably greater than 50 degrees. The collection optic images the collected light gathered from the scene onto an end of the fiber optic bundle. The fiber optic bundle goes through or around the opaque ballistic face shield. The opaque ballistic face shield is non-electric and includes silicon carbide and polyethylene. In one embodiment, the opaque ballistic face shield includes at least two pounds of silicon carbide and polyethylene.

Abstract: An interleaving hexagonal tile (AHT) is provided for incorporation onto a liner in an array for a personnel armor clothing article. The AHT includes a hexagonally-symmetric solid object composed of a homogeneous material. The object includes a geometry that has obverse and reverse planar surfaces parallel to each other. Each planar surface has triangularly disposed terminals. First and second triple sets of oblique surfaces are disposed between the obverse and reverse planar surfaces. A plurality of facets is disposed substantially perpendicular to the planar surfaces. The facets connect between edges of the planar surfaces and adjacent edges of the oblique surfaces. The first and second triple sets of oblique surfaces are disposed to alternate with each other.

Abstract: A system, method, and helmet includes a collection optic configured to collect light from a scene and create an image; a fiber optic bundle configured to receive the image from the collection optic; an opaque ballistic face shield configured adjacent to the fiber optic bundle; and a projection optic configured to receive the image from the fiber optic bundle and project the image to a viewer. The collection optic includes a field of view (FOV) of greater than 30 degrees, and preferably greater than 50 degrees. The collection optic images the collected light gathered from the scene onto an end of the fiber optic bundle. The fiber optic bundle goes through or around the opaque ballistic face shield. The opaque ballistic face shield is non-electric and includes silicon carbide and polyethylene. In one embodiment, the opaque ballistic face shield includes at least two pounds of silicon carbide and polyethylene.

Abstract: A method and resulting composition made by: providing boron carbide and a dopant selected from silicon, aluminum, magnesium, and beryllium; and ball milling the boron carbide with the dopant until at least one out of fifteen of the boron and/or carbon atoms of the boron carbide are substituted with the dopant.

Abstract: An interleaving hexagonal tile (AHT) is provided for incorporation onto a liner in an array for a personnel armor clothing article. The AHT includes a hexagonally-symmetric solid object composed of a homogeneous material. The object includes a geometry that has obverse and reverse planar surfaces parallel to each other. Each planar surface has triangularly disposed terminals. First and second triple sets of oblique surfaces are disposed between the obverse and reverse planar surfaces. A plurality of facets is disposed substantially perpendicular to the planar surfaces. The facets connect between edges of the planar surfaces and adjacent edges of the oblique surfaces. The first and second triple sets of oblique surfaces are disposed to alternate with each other.

Abstract: Methods for forming armored glass cylinders suitable for improving resistance of armor to armor piercing rounds, explosively formed penetrators, or other threats. Cool a cylindrical glass or ceramic element to a temperature below that of a cylindrical casing, place the cylindrical glass or ceramic element into the cylindrical casing while the cylindrical glass or ceramic element is cool, and seal the cylindrical casing and allow the temperature of the cylindrical glass or ceramic element to rise, such that the cylindrical casing compresses the cylindrical glass or ceramic element. Alternately, heat a metal cylindrical casing, press glass or ceramic into the cylinder while the metal cylinder is at an elevated temperature, seal the metal cylindrical casing while metal cylindrical casing is at an elevated temperature, and allow the metal cylinder to cool, such that when cooled, the cylindrical casing will compress the glass in all directions.

Abstract: An interleaving hexagonal tile (AHT) is provided for incorporation onto a liner in an array for a personnel armor clothing article. The AHT includes a hexagonally-symmetric solid object composed of a homogeneous material. The object includes a geometry that has obverse and reverse planar surfaces parallel to each other. Each planar surface has triangularly disposed terminals. First and second triple sets of oblique surfaces are disposed between the obverse and reverse planar surfaces. A plurality of facets is disposed substantially perpendicular to the planar surfaces. The facets connect between edges of the planar surfaces and adjacent edges of the oblique surfaces. The first and second triple sets of oblique surfaces are disposed to alternate with each other.

Abstract: Methods for forming armored glass cylinders suitable for improving resistance of armor to armor piercing rounds, explosively formed penetrators, or other threats. Cool a cylindrical glass or ceramic element to a temperature below that of a cylindrical casing, place the cylindrical glass or ceramic element into the cylindrical casing while the cylindrical glass or ceramic element is cool, and seal the cylindrical casing and allow the temperature of the cylindrical glass or ceramic element to rise, such that the cylindrical casing compresses the cylindrical glass or ceramic element. Alternately, heat a metal cylindrical casing, press glass or ceramic into the cylinder while the metal cylinder is at an elevated temperature, seal the metal cylindrical casing while metal cylindrical casinger is at an elevated temperature, and allow the metal cylinder to cool, such that when cooled, the cylindrical casing will compress the glass in all directions.

Abstract: A coating of atactic polypropylene over a transparent armor substrate improves resistance to penetration while allowing convenient repair of minor abrasions and scratches.

Abstract: A coating of atactic polypropylene over a transparent armor substrate improves resistance to penetration while allowing convenient repair of minor abrasions and scratches.

Abstract: A lightweight armor system providing blast protection and ballistic protection against small arms fire, suitable for use in helmets, personnel or vehicle protection, and other armor systems. A hard substrate is coated on the front surface with a thin elastomeric polymer layer, in which hollow ceramic or metal spheres are encapsulated. The coating layer having a thin elastomeric polymer layer with encapsulated metal or ceramic hollow spheres can be stand-alone blast protection, or can be added to an underlying structure. The glass transition temperature of the polymer is preferably between negative fifty Celsius and zero Celsius.

Abstract: An armor system with a composite laminate having at least four alternating layers (two bi-layers) of a first material and a second material, the first material having a lower acoustic impedance than the second material. The first material is a viscoelastic polymer with a glass transition temperature less than the expected operational temperature range, and the second material can be a hard material such as steel, aluminum, or ceramic. The laminate can include many alternating layers of elastomer and hard material, and can be adhered or affixed to a thicker armor substrate. The second material layer can be a layer of hollow or solid spheres. Additional protective elements such as front surface hemispheres or conical projections, and corrugated panels can be added to improve resistance to armor piercing rounds, explosively formed penetrators, or other threats.

Abstract: A coating of atactic polypropylene over a transparent armor substrate improves resistance to penetration while allowing convenient repair of minor abrasions and scratches.