Multilayer Soft Armor Coating for Liquid-Resistant Ballistic Fabrics
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional ballistic resistant fabrics suffer from a deterioration in ballistic resistance performance when exposed to liquids such as seawater and organic solvents, and existing solutions often require protective surface films that add weight.
Innovation Solution
A fibrous composite with a multilayer coating system, including a fluorine-containing polymer layer, is applied to high-strength fibers, providing resistance to liquids, heat, and abrasion while maintaining flexibility and ballistic resistance without the need for a protective surface film.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional polymeric matrix materials are used to bind high-strength fibers in ballistic resistant fabrics, then the fabric provides good ballistic resistance, but the fabric exhibits poor resistance to liquids including seawater and organic solvents, causing deterioration of ballistic performance
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a composite polymeric matrix system comprising multiple polymers including at least one fluorinated polymer and at least one non-fluorinated polymer. The fluorinated polymer provides resistance to liquid penetration and dissolution (seawater and organic solvents), while the non-fluorinated polymer contributes to binding the high-strength fibers. This composite matrix system maintains ballistic resistance performance while providing superior liquid resistance compared to conventional single-polymer matrices.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a protective surface film is applied to enhance fabric durability and water/chemical resistance, then the fabric resistance to liquids improves, but the weight of the fabric increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the protective function into the bulk polymeric matrix material itself by using fluorinated polymers that provide inherent resistance to liquid penetration and dissolution. Instead of adding a separate protective surface film, the fluorinated polymer is integrated throughout the matrix system, providing water and chemical resistance as an intrinsic property of the binding material. This eliminates the need for additional protective layers that would increase fabric weight.
3Ease of operation
If the fabric is made flexible and soft for comfort in body armor garments, then the wearability improves, but the resistance to liquid penetration and ballistic performance deterioration worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs a composite polymeric matrix system where fluorinated polymers provide liquid resistance and non-fluorinated polymers provide fiber binding capabilities. This combination allows the matrix to maintain flexibility and softness for comfort while the fluorinated component ensures resistance to liquid penetration. The synergistic interaction between the different polymers enables both flexibility and liquid resistance to coexist without compromising ballistic performance.
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 multilayer coating system significantly retains ballistic resistance performance after exposure to water and organic solvents, with greater than 90% V50 retention, and reduces liquid absorption, enhancing the durability and effectiveness of the fabric.
Implementation Method 1
Fluorine-containing polymers are desirable in other arts due to their resistance to dissolution, penetration and/or transpiration by sea water and resistance to dissolution, penetration and/or transpiration by one or more organic solvents
Implementation Method 2
reduces liquid absorption, enhancing the durability and effectiveness of the fabric
Data Source
AI summary
Fibrous substrates and articles that retain their superior ballistic resistance performance after exposure to liquids such as sea water and organic solvents, such as gasoline and other petroleum-based products. The fibrous substrates are coated with a multilayer polymeric coating including at least two different polymer layers wherein at least one of the layers is formed from a fluorine-containing polymer.