Ballistic performance of hybrid thermoplastic composite armors reinforced with Kevlar and basalt fabrics

Ballistic performance of hybrid thermoplastic composite armors reinforced with Kevlar and basalt fabrics of 2D plain woven (2D-P) and 3D angle interlock (3D-A) architectures was investigated through experiments and simulations. Two types of hybrid armors were manufactured with polypropylene (PP) as a matrix: one with a non-symmetric (H-1) stacking sequence and the other with a symmetric (H-2) stacking sequence. Ballistic impact tests were imparted with a 9 mm full metal jacket (FMJ) projectile on the H-1 and H-2 armors. H-1 armor exhibited full perforations for the velocities between 365 and 395 m/s, while the H-2 armor was able to confront successfully. The front face damage of the armor was not influenced by the stacking sequence. The ballistic limit was increased by 26.27% from H-1 armor to H-2 armor, indicating the influence of placing 3D-A fabrics on the front face. However, the overall stacking sequence showed a significant influence on the overall ballistic performance of composite armors.