Basalt particle-containing compositions and articles for protective coatings and ballistic shield mats/tiles/protective building components

Abstract

It has been found that basalt particles, when combined with a resin binder and a reinforcing material, such as fiberglass, provide unexpected strength, fire-resistance, radiation impermeability, and projectile shielding for ballistic armor / shields, fire-resistant building panels, construction blocks and protective coatings on substrates. The armor panels can be worn, as in a bullet-proof vest, or can be used as a shield to protect a vehicle, aircraft or other structures as projectile penetration-resistant and fire and radiation resistant materials.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention is directed to basalt particle-containing composite compositions, and methods of manufacture. It has been found that basalt particles, when combined with a resin binder and a reinforcing material, such as fiberglass, provide unexpected shielding results for ballistic armor / shields; fire-retardant, self-extinguishing building panels; construction blocks and protective coatings on substrates. The armor panels can be worn, as in a bullet-proof vest, or can be used as a shield to protect a vehicle, aircraft or other structures as projectile penetration-resistant and fire-retardant materials.BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART[0002]Basalt is an igneous mineral ore that can be melted and formed into continuous fibers, staple fibers, e.g., 30 mm in length, micro fibers of, for example, 0.42 μm in diameter, and intermediate lengths and diameters. Basalt fibers have been (a) used to make papermaking fabric, see U.S. Pat. No. 6,926,221; (b) zirconia coat...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0016]One aspect of the basalt particle-containing compositions, articles, methods, building components and panels described herein is to provide an armor mat, panel or building block that can be manufactured in a desired shape and size, and which is particularly effective in arresting a plura

Problems solved by technology

Due to its weight, such armor is quite unsuitable for light vehicles such as automobiles, jeeps, light boats, or aircraft, whose performance is compromised by steel panels having a thickness of more than a few millimeters.

Ceramic shields, however, shatter when struck by a fast moving projectile and, therefore, cannot protect against multiple projectiles that strike in close proximity, as occurs with automatic weapons fire.

Much research has been devoted to improving the low tensile and low flexible strength and poor fracture toughness of ceramic materials; however, these remain the major drawbacks to the use of ceramic plates and other large components which can crack and / or shatter in response to the shock of incoming projectiles.

One disadvantage of this type of panel is that on completion, the panels are almost impossible to modify.

In use, the ceramic coating performs well against the first bullet, but tends to shatter, and thus fails to protect against further projectiles.

Such clothing is certainly valuable against low energy projectiles, such as those fired from a distance of several hundred meters, but fails to protect the wearer against high-velocity projectiles originating at closer range.

If made to provide such protection, the weight and / or cost of such clothing discourages its use.

A further known problem with such clothing is that even when it succeeds in stopping a projectile, the user may suffer injury due to indentation of the vest to the body, caused by too small a body area being impacted and the inability to absorb the energy of a bullet.

A common problem with prior art ceramic armor concerns damage inflicted on the armor structure by a first projectile, whether stopped or penetrating.

Such damage weakens the armor panel, and so allows penetration of a following projectile.

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