A composite armor includes a ceramic substrate defining a frontside opposite a backside, where a thickness is defined extending between the frontside and the backside. A first tension-wrapped thermoplastic composite overwind is wrapped around the ceramic substrate about the frontside and backside. A first portion of the first overwind overlaps a second portion of the first overwind. The first and second portions of the first overwind are fixedly attached to one another utilizing a first localized heating. The first overwind includes a first tensile pretension. A backing is disposed about the backside of the ceramic substrate attached to the first overwind. The ceramic substrate has a higher modulus of elasticity in comparison to the overwind. The first overwind has a higher modulus of elasticity in comparison to the backing.

The present invention provides for methods and compositions for lightweight composite antiballistic assemblies comprising interlocking ceramic plates or modules. The modules may he self-contained and include both ceramic and ductile elements. Alternatively, interlocking ceramic plates may be arrayed over a ductile backing layer of metal or antiballistic fiber or polymer. The ceramic elements may be enhanced with carbon nanotubes or other reinforcing nanomaterials. In one or more embodiments, the strike-face, or front-facing surface, of this assembly may feature a non-planar design to assist in defeating incoming projectiles.

A composite product substantially reduced the impact force imposed by hard impactor which travelled at the speed in the range of 400 m/s to 1400 m/s simultaneously damping the vibrations and shocks appeared therein is disclosed. At the same time it is light weight with the weight lower than that of 22 to 38 kg/m2and is flexible to adopt the shape suitable for the end applications. A method of manufacturing the composite product of the invention is also disclosed.

Vehicle armor may include an assembly of components including an outer armor pack, an air gap, an inner armor pack, and a high energy absorbing layer. At least one version of the outer armor pack may include an outermost outer fiber reinforced composite protective layer of ≧1 mm thickness, an outer ceramic armor layer, and an inner fiber reinforced composite support layer to absorb residual energy from small arms. The air gap may be between 1-10 mm to allow for deflection of the outer armor pack. The inner armor pack may include an outer fiber reinforced composite protective layer of ≧0.5 mm thickness, an inner segmented ceramic armor layer, and an innermost inner fiber reinforced composite layer of ≧10 mm thickness. The high energy absorbing layer may have ≧25 mm thickness and be configured to mitigate the effect of residual fragments defeating the outer and inner armor packs.

Disclosed herein are embodiments of a releasably engagable system of ballistic-resistant panels including a first ballistic-resistant panel comprising a ceramic plate system, the first ballistic-resistant panel having opposing first ballistic-resistant panel front and back surfaces; and a second ballistic-resistant panel having opposing second ballistic-resistant panel front and back surfaces. Additionally, the embodiments of the releasably engagable systems of ballistic-resistant panels include at least one of fasteners, an adhesive coating, or a securement element, all of which function to releasably engage the second ballistic-resistant panel front surface with the first ballistic-resistant panel back surface in fixed adjacent relation to provide releasably engaged ballistic-resistant panels.

An armor system with a composite laminate having at least four alternating layers (two bi-layers) of a first material and a second material, the first material having a lower acoustic impedance than the second material. The first material is an elastomer and the second material can be a hard material such as steel, aluminum, or ceramic, or an elastomer with a higher acoustic impedance than the first material. The laminate can include many alternating layers of the first and second materials, and can be adhered or affixed to a thicker armor substrate. Additional protective elements such as corrugated metal-ceramic panels and armored glass cylinders can be added to improve resistance to armor piercing rounds, explosively formed penetrators, or other threats.

A bulletproof panel includes: (i) a ceramic plate A; (ii) at least one phenol resin impregnated aramid fabric laminate C having phenol resin impregnated aramid fabrics C1, C2 and C3 which are laminated thereon; and (iii) an epoxy resin impregnated fabric B disposed between the ceramic plate A and the phenol resin impregnated aramid fabric laminate C, and impregnated with an epoxy resin. The phenol resin impregnated aramid fabrics C1, C2 and C3 may be aramid fabrics impregnated with a phenol resin, and aramid fabrics impregnated with a phenol/polyvinyl butyral mixture resin. The ceramic plate A and the phenol resin impregnated aramid fabric laminate C are not delaminated from each other even under a high-temperature environment, and thereby greatly enhancing the bulletproof performance.

An armor system configured to be coupled to a frame surrounding a window in a vehicle or other structure, such as a building. The armor system may be configured to provide any desired ballistics protection rating. The armor system includes a ballistics-grade armor panel and at least one insert embedded in the ballistics-grade armor panel. The insert extends around at least a portion of a periphery of the ballistics-grade armor panel. The one or more inserts may be configured to reduce the parasitic weight of the armor system.

A method for manufacturing armor includes coating a first side of a ballistics arresting core with a first shell layer to create a partially coated ballistics arresting core, placing the partially coated ballistics arresting core in a vacuum bag and depressurizing the vacuum bag and curing the partially coated ballistics arresting core in the depressurized vacuum bag to create a partially shelled ballistics arresting core. The method further includes removing the partially shelled ballistics arresting core from the vacuum bag, coating a second side of the partially shelled ballistics arresting core with a second shell layer to create a fully coated ballistics arresting core, placing the fully coated ballistics arresting core in a vacuum bag and depressurizing the vacuum bag, and curing the fully coated ballistics arresting core in the depressurized vacuum bag to create a fully shelled ballistics arresting core.

A compositionally-graded structure including a body having a first major surface and a second major surface opposed from the first major surface along a thickness axis, the body including a metallic component and a ceramic component, wherein a concentration of the ceramic component in the body is a function of location within the body along the thickness axis, wherein transitions of the concentration of the ceramic component in the body are continuous such that distinct interfaces are not macroscopically established within the body, and wherein the concentration of the ceramic component is at least 95 percent by volume at at least one location within the body along the thickness axis.