Low weight and high durability soft body armor composite using topical wax coatings
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Solution Overview
Problem
Soft ballistic resistant materials exhibit unsatisfactory abrasion resistance, affecting their durability, and existing solutions do not adequately enhance both abrasion and ballistic penetration resistance simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A multilayer coating comprising a polymeric binder material and a low viscosity wax is applied to high-strength fibers, where the wax is fused to the binder-coated substrate, improving the composite's abrasion resistance and ballistic penetration resistance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If soft ballistic resistant materials are used, then flexibility and comfort are improved, but abrasion resistance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies a multilayer coating system comprising a polymeric binder layer and a wax layer on top of the fibrous substrate. This composite structure combines the flexibility of the soft ballistic material with the abrasion resistance of the wax coating, resolving the contradiction between flexibility and durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The wax coating is applied specifically to the surface of the fibrous substrate, providing localized abrasion resistance where it is most needed during wear, while the bulk material retains its soft and flexible characteristics. This allows different regions of the material to have different properties.
2Reliability
If traditional coatings are applied to improve abrasion resistance, then durability is improved, but ballistic penetration resistance does not significantly improve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the coating by using a specific wax material with particular melting point and viscosity characteristics. This wax formulation provides both abrasion resistance and enhanced ballistic penetration resistance, unlike traditional coatings that only address durability.
Solution Approach 2:
The wax coating serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides abrasion resistance for durability, enhances ballistic penetration resistance, and maintains flexibility. This multi-functional coating resolves the limitation of traditional single-function coatings.
3Strength
If hard armor materials are used, then ballistic penetration resistance is improved, but weight and bulk increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a thin film wax coating on flexible fibrous substrates to achieve ballistic protection. This approach provides the necessary ballistic penetration resistance without the weight and bulk of hard armor materials, as the protective function is achieved through a lightweight surface coating rather than thick rigid structures.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The wax coating significantly enhances the abrasion resistance and ballistic penetration resistance of the composite materials, raising the V50 values for 9 mm and 44 Magnum bullets by approximately 80 ft/sec and 74 ft/sec respectively, while maintaining durability.
Implementation Method 1
a layer of a wax on the polymeric binder material layer, wherein the wax is fused to the polymeric binder material-coated fibrous substrate
Implementation Method 2
the wax is fused to the polymeric binder material-coated fibrous substrate
Data Source
AI summary
Ballistic resistant articles having abrasion resistance. Particularly, abrasion resistant, ballistic resistant articles and composites having a wax-based topical treatment.