THE EFFECT OF ADHESIVE PROPERTIES ON BALLISTIC PERFORMANCE OF HYBRID SYSTEMS OF FIBER COMPOSITES WITH CERAMIC FRONT PLATES

摘要

The ballistic performance of hybrid systems of a ceramic front plate and a polymeric fiber composite backing plate was studied with a special attention to the effect of adhesive properties. The mechanisms of damage propagation from the ceramic layer to the composite backing layer were examined utilizing different compositions of adhesives as well as fiber composites. The ballistic limit velocity under the impact of tungsten carbide spherical projectile was found to be higher with the toughened vinyl ester adhesive over three other systems such as polysulfide, polycarbonate, and and vinyl ester. Through the off-centered 3-point bending test and a qualitative analysis of dynamic adhesive strength evaluation, the criteria of dynamic adhesive behavior of the hybrid systems was estimated. Results of these studies indicate that the mechanical properties of backing composites, as well as adhesives, are important parameters governing failure behavior of the ceramic front layer.