Armor components having a ceramic substrate, a thermal sprayed barrier coating covering the substrate material to form a barrier coated substrate, and an outermost encapsulation of metal generally surrounding at least the periphery of the barrier coated substrate are disclosed herein. The encapsulation of metal was cast to the ceramic substrate as molten metal, and the thermal sprayed barrier coating comprises a cermet material, a ceramic material, or a combination thereof. The ceramic substrate is preferably a ceramic tile for ballistic armor. Also disclosed are armor components having a plurality of the ceramic tiles interconnected by the encapsulation of metal, with the metal, which was casted thereto, surrounding at least the periphery of each of the plurality of the armor components.

An armor system includes an appliqu comprising a high fluid retaining material (HFRM) and a plate configured to hold the appliqu against a compartment, wherein the armor system is adapted so that upon impact of a blast wave upon the plate, the HFRM is vented away from the compartment. The armor system may be adapted to a vehicle. In another embodiment, an armor system includes a plate operably connected to a plunger, one or more rods of brittle material operably contained within a tube, wherein the armor system is adapted so that upon impact of a blast shock wave upon the plate, the plate transfers the blast shock wave to the plunger and then to the contents of the tube. Optionally, the tube also contains HFRM.

The invention combines tiles with an optimal width to thickness ratio together into array(s), and then affixes the array(s) to a depressible adhesive coated substrate. This combination of array(s) and substrates compliments the optimal tile thickness to width ratio to create a more advantageous directional shift of energy dissipation that creates a yaw of the bullet's direction, and subsequent increase of ceramic thickness that the projectile must pass through. The invention eliminates hard epoxies and rigid fiber induced wraps to create a truly flexible matrix that can be applied for use to protect the body with traditional concealable or tactical carriers, or can be used as a peel and stick high threat armor system that can be easily field mounted to a vehicle, structure, or aircraft.

A frustum embedded fabricated composite protective structure is provided, including a restraint frame, a back plate, an infill block and a buffer block. The restraint frame is provided with a plurality of mounting holes matching with the shape of the infill block, the restraint frame is arranged on the back plate, the infill block is in a frustum shape. The buffer block and the infill block are installed in the mounting hole of the restraint frame, the buffer block is arranged on the smaller end of the infill block, and the infill block is wedged into the mounting hole of the restraint frame through a wedge surface mating. Because this protective structure is assembled by multiple restraint frames and infill blocks, under the prestress restraint of partition blocks, the damage range after penetration or explosion will be significantly reduced, and it can withstand multiple blows.

There is provided a composite structure, comprising a protective structure comprising a plurality of ballistic layers arranged as a stack; and an ancillary structure adjacent to the protective structure adapted to at least partly absorb a force acting on the protective structure. The ancillary structure comprises at least one first layer comprising an aerogel arranged to at least partly absorb a force acting on the protective structure. A part of each ballistic layer is moveable relative to at least one adjacent ballistic layer and wherein a part of each ballistic layer is connected to at least one adjacent ballistic layer so as to restrict relative movement of a part of each of the adjacent ballistic layers.

A composite material (10) comprising: a base layer (48); a plurality of protective plates (41, 51, 51a, 51b) located on the base layer (48); an attaching means (43) to connect the base layer (48) to the protective plates (41), wherein
the attaching means (43) is positioned along a first direction (46) on the base layer (48) to resist pivoting of each protective plate (41, 51, 51a, 51b) about an axis normal to the base layer (48).

Disclosed herein is an additively manufactured multi-layered ballistic armor and a method of forming a multi-layered ballistic armor. The multi-layered ballistic armor includes a metal layer and a ceramic layer. The metal layer includes first mechanical interconnection features and a plurality of first pores. The ceramic layer includes second mechanical interconnection features configured to mechanically interconnect with the first mechanical interconnection features and a plurality of second pores.

A segmented diving suit includes a base layer and a plurality of composite plates arranged on the base layer in a configuration designed to avoid joints or other anatomical features that bend. The composite plates include a spheres or microspheres dispersed/embedded in a carrier polymer. The spheres or microspheres provide one or more of thermal protection, sonic/blast resistance, and ballistic protection.

A laminate structure comprises a protective layer and a backing structure. The backing structure comprises a first support layer comprising an aerogel and a second support layer comprising a polymer and is arranged so that the second support layer is provided between the protective layer and the first support layer.

A laminate structure comprises a protective layer and a backing structure. The backing structure comprises a first support layer comprising an aerogel and a second support layer comprising a polymer and is arranged so that the second support layer is provided between the protective layer and the first support layer.