Multi-impact multi-layer body armor is presented. A first layer is a single layer of front covering material. A second layer, is a ballistic ceramic plate formed of a plurality of curved smaller ceramic tiles that are bonded together using a structural adhesive. A third layer formed of one or a plurality of aramid layers such as Kevlar XP. A fourth layer formed of a rigid backing plate, formed of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene such as Spectra Shield. A fifth layer is a single layer of rear covering material. Thus, an improved body armor is presented which is inexpensive to produce, light, durable and can sustain multiple impacts.

Load carriage systems are described including one or more of a first chest panel, a first back panel, and a self-adjusting cummerbund connecting the first chest panel and the first back panel. The self-adjusting cummerbund may include a tensioning mechanism configured to allow the cummerbund to extend and retract, and may be configured to provide varying resistive force. The tensioning mechanism may include one or more of a sliding portion, a continuous patterned length of material that is folded over itself, and an elastic member that is attached to the sliding member and the length of material. Body armor plates may be held between outer and inner chest panels and/or between outer and inner back panels. A strip of webbing may be used to secure the body armor plate between the outer and inner panels.

A process of bonding different constituent materials of different tensile strengths in a single step in an isostatic high pressure reactor in order to produce a composite material.

A material sheet is formed of a woven fabric of polymer tapes, wherein the width of a tape varies less than 2% on average in the longitudinal direction of the tape. Processes for the preparation of the material sheet, and to a ballistic resistant article comprising the material sheet are also provided. A ballistic resistant article which includes the material sheet exhibits excellent antiballistic properties.

Armor for lightweight ballistic protection is made up of composite tiles which can be assembled into modules. The modules can be assembled into panels and can be mounted on vehicles and aircraft and on the walls of shelters. The tiles have core layer(s) of non-homogeneous materials provided by particles of grit distributed in a plastic, preferably rigid polymeric matrix, and which are faced by a layer of high modulus stiff material such as ceramic. The tiles are preferrably backed by elastomeric material and may have sheets of composite material between the elastomeric layer and the non-homogenous core layer. The tiles may be stacked, forming modules and the modules assembled in rows to form panels. An incoming object causes the facing layer to distribute the impact force over a large area of the non-homogeneous grit/polymeric core layer which fractures and absorbs the impact and shock waves, both the compressive direct wave and the tensile wave reflected from the back interface. The non-homogenity and distributed grit particles in the core layer also serve to reflect and disperse the shock wave. The elastomeric layer also aids in distributing the shock wave. In response to the impact and shock waves and projectile penetration, the non-homogeneous grit/polymeric core layer cracks, pulverizes and disintegrates resulting in high energy absorption by crack propagation. Also the small debris particles which are generated absorb kinetic energy as they are propelled into motion, diverted and scattered.

Load carriage systems are described including one or more of a first chest panel, a first back panel, and a self-adjusting cummerbund connecting the first chest panel and the first back panel. The self-adjusting cummerbund may include a tensioning mechanism configured to allow the cummerbund to extend and retract, and may be configured to provide varying resistive force. The tensioning mechanism may include one or more of a sliding portion, a continuous patterned length of material that is folded over itself, and an elastic member that is attached to the sliding member and the length of material. Body armor plates may be held between outer and inner chest panels and/or between outer and inner back panels. A strip of webbing may be used to secure the body armor plate between the outer and inner panels.

A pre-stressed curved plate comprising a curved plate having at least one concave surface, the curved plate being enveloped and adhesively bonded with tensioned reinforcing fibers, whereby the reinforcing fibers are first wound around the plate under tension being spaced apart from the concave surface and subsequently subjected to pressure to stretch and bond the reinforcing fibers to the surfaces of the plate, where upon bonding, the tensile strain of the fiber introduces stress in the plate.

A ballistic tile for use in an imbricated pattern of like ballistic tiles to achieve coverage of a protected area by the imbricated pattern, while having rounded corners to limit the potential for spalling on ballistic impact. The ballistic tile may include a strike face that is generally undulating to laterally deflect at least a portion of the impact force, and to induce turning of the ballistic projectile on impact to further distribute the impact force. The ballistic tile may also include one or more features on an obverse and reverse side thereof that, when arranged in an imbricated pattern, limit lateral motion of the tiles on ballistic impact, and/or laterally transmit the energy of the projectile for deflection and absorption thereof.

A spike resistant package containing a pouch, a first grouping of spike resistant textile layers, and a slip layer. Each of the textile layers within the first grouping of textile layers contains a plurality of interwoven yarns or fibers having a tenacity of about 5 or more grams per denier. At least a portion of the spike resistant textile layers comprise about 10 wt. % or less, based on the total weight of the spike resistant textile layer, of a coating comprising a plurality of particles having a diameter of about 20 m or less on at least one of the surfaces of the spike resistant textile layer. The slip layer has a stiffness of less than about 0.01 N-m and a static coefficient of friction (COF) between the slip layer and the second side of the first grouping of less than about 0.40. The pouch encapsulates the grouping of textile layers and slip layer. An article containing the package is also described.

A spike resistant package containing a pouch, a first grouping of spike resistant textile layers, and a slip layer. Each of the textile layers within the first grouping of textile layers contains a plurality of interwoven yarns or fibers having a tenacity of about 14 or more grams per denier. The slip layer has a thickness of less than about 0.1 mm, a stiffness of less than about 0.01 N-m, and a static coefficient of friction (COF) between the slip layer and the second side of the first grouping of less than about 0.40. The pouch essentially fully encapsulates the grouping of spike resistant textile layers and the slip layer and the slip layer and the inner surface of the pouch are in direct and intimate contact. An article containing the package is also described.