A lightweight ballistic armor system comprising at least one metal strike face plate, a laminate composite backing material secured to the at least one metal strike face plate and an optional air space provided between the metal strike face plate and the laminate composite backing material. The metal strike face plate or plates has a predetermined defined thickness and has a plurality of slotted holes set at an angle relative to the vertical orientation or axis of the metal strike face plate, or which are straight. The plurality of slotted holes is sufficiently small to prevent the passage of a projectile or fragment therethrough. The laminate composite backing material comprises at least one material selected from an aramid fiber material, S-glass, E-glass, polypropylene and UHMWPE, and is provided in combination with a polymer-based resin material. The optional air space provided between the metal strike face plate and the composite backing material has a depth in the range between 0-12 inches.

An impact absorption structure (1) is provided. The impact absorption structure (1) comprises an impact receiving component (3), capable of, after receiving an initial impact shockwave, separating that shockwave into at least a first shockwave (S11) and a second shockwave (S122), time-spaced from the first shockwave (S11). The impact absorption structure (1) also comprises an energy dissipation component (5) adjacent to the impact receiving component (3), such that the time-spaced shockwaves (S11, S122) can be passed across an interface from the impact receiving component (3) to the energy dissipation component (5). The energy dissipation component (5) comprises a chemical element or compound such as calcite exhibiting a first displacive phase change from a first phase to a second phase (52) upon experiencing the first shockwave (S11), a second displacive phase from the second phase (52) to a third phase (53) upon experiencing the second, later shockwave (S122), and a third displacive phase change from the third, or a later, phase (53) to the first phase upon unloading after the second shockwave (S122), the compound thereby exhibiting a hysteresis cycle in which elastic energy is dissipated.

A modular armor system configured to be readily attached and detached from a frame surrounding a window in a vehicle or other structure, such as a building. The modular armor system may be configured to provide any desired ballistics protection rating. In one embodiment, the modular armor system includes a ballistics-grade armor panel having an outer strike face and an inner surface opposite the outer strike face. The modular armor system also includes a fastener coupled to the ballistics-grade armor panel. The fastener is configured to detachably couple the ballistics-grade armor panel to the frame surrounding the window in the vehicle or other structure.

A ballistic protection material (10) having a composite layer (16) that comprises a mesh (54) embedded in a mass of compacted particulate material (56) that is bound together by a binder material (66). The mesh (54) may be a metal mesh, the particulate material (56) may comprise ceramic particles (64) and the binder material (66) may be an epoxy resin matrix. The ballistic protection material (10) may comprise additional layers, for example, a first layer (12) comprising a first class of steel and a second layer (14) comprising a second class of steel that is different to the first class of steel. The second layer (14) can be positioned intermediate the first layer (12) and the composite layer (16).

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 modular armor system configured to be readily attached and detached from a frame surrounding a window in a vehicle or other structure, such as a building. The modular armor system may be configured to provide any desired ballistics protection rating. In one embodiment, the modular armor system includes a ballistics-grade armor panel having an outer strike face and an inner surface opposite the outer strike face. The modular armor system also includes a fastener coupled to the ballistics-grade armor panel. The fastener is configured to detachably couple the ballistics-grade armor panel to the frame surrounding the window in the vehicle or other structure.

The current disclosure is directed to an impact resistant material made from a novel melanin composite. It has been found that using these composites allows for the production of effective ballistic protection and blast containment materials.

In some examples, a method for forming a ballistic armor article, the method including forming a preform article by depositing a filament via a filament delivery device, wherein the filament includes a sacrificial binder and a powder; removing the binder from the preform article; and sintering the preform article to form the ballistic armor article, wherein the ballistic armor article is configured to absorb energy from an external projectile that impacts the ballistic armor article, and wherein the ballistic armor article is configured to prevent the projectile from penetrating through the ballistic armor article.

A ballistic armor system comprising a metal strike face plate, a laminate composite backing material secured to the metal strike face plate and an air space provided between the metal strike face plate and the laminate composite backing material. The metal strike face plate has a predetermined defined thickness and has a plurality of slotted holes set at an oblique angle relative to the vertical orientation or axis of the metal strike face plate. The plurality of slotted holes is sufficiently small to prevent the passage of a projectile or fragment therethrough. The laminate composite backing material comprises at least one material selected from an aramid fiber material, S-glass, E-glass and UHMWPE, and is provided in combination with a polymer-based resin material. The air space provided between the metal strike face plate and the composite backing material has a depth in the range between 0-10 inches.

A multi-threat security apparatus system for critical infrastructure protection is disclosed having an above-ground concrete base, a vertical post system adapted to be attached to the above-ground concrete base and to receive a plurality of louvers. The plurality of louvers provides the necessary ballistic protection for and air flow through to the critical infrastructure. The louvers may include a composite of aluminum foam, a resin impregnated ballistic material and an aluminum foam. The composite structure may be used on doors, panels or building walls.