Evaluation of Ballistic Armor Behavior

with Epoxy Composite Reinforced

with Malva Fibers

Lucio Fabio Cassiano Nascimento, Luane Isquerdo Ferreira Holanda,

Luis Henrique Leme Louro, Sérgio Neves Monteiro,
Alaelson Vieira Gomes and Édio Pereira Lima Júnior

Abstract In the present study, we used natural fibers malva (Urena lobata, Linn) in
0, 15 and 30 vol.% as reinforcement of epoxy matrix composites to ballistic
application. Ballistic efficiency of these composites was assessed by measuring the
energy absorbed and residual velocity after impact 9 mm FMJ ammunition pro-
jectile, aiming to compare with traditional materials, such as: aramid fabric Kevlar™
used in vests for personal protection. The results showed by visual analysis and
scanning electron microscopy (SEM) that the main active failure mechanisms in
composites were delamination layers and fiber rupture. In test groups can be seen
that the absorbed energy and the residual velocity varies with the fiber percentage
used. Compared to aramid there is both a gain in weight and cost of the ballistic
armor, which makes the fiber malva a promising material applications involving
personal protection against 9 mm caliber ammunition.

Keywords Ballistic test
Malva fibers
Composites

Introduction

Ballistic armors were basically composed by metals until World War II [1].
Weaponry development has been increasing the demand for lighter and more
efficient ballistic armor, especially for Armed Forces. In military applications, the
basic requirements are directly linked to mobility and impact perforation resistance.
At a first moment, increasing the projectile’s potential for perforation leads to
heavier armors, reducing mobility [2]. For this reason, it’s important to seek for

L.F.C. Nascimento (&)
L.I.F. Holanda (&)
L.H.L. Louro
S.N. Monteiro

A.V. Gomes
É.P. Lima Júnior
Militar Institute of Engineering, IME, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
e-mail: lucio_coppe@yahoo.com.br
L.I.F. Holanda
e-mail: luaneferreira12030@gmail.com

© The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society 2017 647

S. Ikhmayies et al. (eds.), Characterization of Minerals, Metals,
and Materials 2017, The Minerals, Metals & Materials Series,
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-51382-9_71
648 L.F.C. Nascimento et al.

Table 1 Properties of aramid fiber, malva fiber and epoxy resin [5, 6]
Materials Density Tensile Young’s Specific Specific
(g/cm3) resistance modules resistance modules
(MPa) (GPa) (MPa) (GPa)
Aramid 1.4 3000–3150 63–67 2143–2250 45–48
Malva 1.4 160 17.4 116 13
Epoxy 1.1–1.3 60–80 2–4 46–73 1.5–3.6

solutions different from simply incrementing thickness of layers that constitute

ballistic armor.
Nowadays it’s interesting to use less synthetic materials—mainly aramid fiber in
typical armor systems—and more natural materials like lignocellulosic fibers. Those
vegetal fibers are both biodegradable and renewable sources so they may contribute
to social and economic country’s development [1]. According to CONAB
(“National Supply Company”), Brazil has been the world’s fourth largest producer
of jute and malva since 2005 [3]. Those products get social importance because they
contribute to financial support of many Amazon rural families, principally indige-
nous peoples in Amazonas and Pará [4].
Another point is that aramid fabrics are imported and have limited lifetime [2].
On the contrary, natural fiber composites are more attractive options because of
their components’ price (resin and fiber), much smaller than those of synthetic
materials. For instance, aramid costs US$ 63.60/kg whereas epoxy resin and malva
fiber cost US$ 2.80/kg and US$ 0.30/kg respectively [2]. Besides the malva fiber’s
density is similar to aramid’s, which is about 1.4 g/cm3. Other properties can be
found in Table 1.
In the meantime, it is necessary to consider some issues related to the use of
natural fibers. It is known that load distribution happens throughout the interface
between matrix and fiber. On the one hand, increasing fiber percentage makes the
impact resistance increases as well. On the other hand, when fiber percentage is too
high the wettability of the resin on the fibers becomes less effective, causing the
resistance to decrease. Another point is that natural fibers are hydrophilic, while
matrix is generally hydrophobic, so adhesion degree between them diminishes. In
both cases the effective interface area between fiber and matrix become smaller,
leading to worse load distribution.
The goal of this study is to analyze the ballistic efficiency of epoxy matrix
composites in different percentage of malva fibers (0, 15 and 30 vol.%). The bal-
listic test consists of determining the residual velocity of the bullet after its impact
on the target (specimen). This velocity is related to the energy that is absorbed by
the composite during the impact—the greater that energy, the more efficient the
composite will be. After, a visual analysis is made in scanning electron microscopy
(SEM) to observe fracture mechanisms in the composites.
Evaluation of Ballistic Armor Behavior … 649

Materials and Methods

The malva fiber has been used as reinforcement in the composite. The fibers were
provided by State University of Northern Rio de Janeiro (UENF) and commercially
supplied by the Brazilian firm Castanhal Textile Company. Firstly, the fibers were
cleaned, aligned and cut in length of 15 cm. After, they were maintained in stove
for 24 h in order to reduce the absorbed moisture. The as received bundle of fibers
and the aligned cut fibers can be seen in Fig. 1.
The composite matrix were diglycidyl ether of the bisphenol A (DGEBA), which
is a commercial epoxy resin mixed with trietylene tetramine (TETA) hardener in
proportion of 13 parts of hardener per hundred parts of resin in weight. Both
components are fabricated by the Brazilian firm Dow Chemical and commercially
supplied by the distributor RESINPOXY Ltda.
Moreover, it was used auxiliary equipment (Fig. 2), such as:
• Hydraulic press for loading until 30T (SKAY);
• Rectangular metallic mold with dimensions of 150  120 mm;
• Accurate balance (GEHAKA, BK300 version);
• Stove (ELKA); and
• Exhausting system.
Composites with 0, 15 and 30% in volume of malva fibers were manufactured,
being 4 unites of each concentration. For malva fibers it was used as initial refer-
ence density of 1.40 g/cm3 [7] and for the epoxy resin (DGEBA-TETA) value of
1.11 g/cm3 [1]. A pressure of 5 MPa was applied and the composite plate cured for
24 h [1, 2].

Fig. 1 Malva fibers: a as received bundle of fibers; b aligned cut

650 L.F.C. Nascimento et al.

Fig. 2 Auxiliary equipment a hydraulic press; b metallic mold; c accurate balance; d stove;
e exhausting system

Fig. 3 Composite plates of

epoxy reinforced with 0, 15
and 30 vol.% of malva fibers

The aramid fabric plies were supplied by the Brazilian firm LFJ Blindagem
Com. Serv. S.A (São Paulo, Brazil). They’ve been used 4 sheets of aramid, man-
ufactured with average dimensions 150  150  453 mm. Figure 3 show com-
posite plates of epoxy reinforced with different percentages of malva fibers. The
approximate dimensions of the composite plates were 150  120  11.5 mm.
The ballistic tests were conducted at the Brazilian Army shooting range facility,
CAEX, in the Marambaia peninsula, Rio de Janeiro. All tests, 4 for each type of
percentage, were carried out according to the NIJ 0101.04 standards using 9 mm
FMJ military ammunition (m = 8 g—Armor level III-A). Figure 4 shows,
schematically, the exploded view of the ballistic test setup. A dashed straight line
indicates the projectile trajectory. A steel frame was used to position the target,
which was held in place by spring clips (Fig. 5). The gun, located 5 m from the
target, was sighted on its center with a laser beam. The exact velocity of the
projectile at three moments: leaving the gun, immediately before impacting (Vi) in
the plate and after outcoming projectile (residual velocity—Vr) was measured by an
optical barrier and a model SL-52 OP Weibel fixed-head Doppler radar system
(Fig. 6). The Kinetic energy DEd, dissipated inside the target, could then be esti-
mated by Eq. (1):

1

DEd ¼ m Vi2  Vr2 ð1Þ
2
Evaluation of Ballistic Armor Behavior … 651

Fig. 4 Schematic exploded view of the ballistic experimental setup [1]

Fig. 5 Specimens fixed in the metal bracket with spring clips: composite plate (left) and aramid
plate (right)

Fig. 6 Apparatus of CAEX for ballistic testing with ammunition 9 mm (left); Doppler radar
652 L.F.C. Nascimento et al.

The system response is given in the form of a spectrum depicting the velocity of
the projectile from the time it leaves the arms to a point where the system can’t
detect.

Results and Discussions

The average impact velocity of 436 m/s corresponds to a projectile kinetic energy
of 760 J. All targets were completed perforated after these individual tests. Not only
the projectile impact velocity but also the residual velocity of the fragments passing
through the target were measured by the Doppler radar system. Table 2 presents the
impact and residual velocities as well as the internally dissipated energy, Eq. (1),
from ballistic tests of individual plates. In this table, it is important to realize that the
energy absorption increases with the fiber percentage in the tested plates. Tables 2
and 3 shows the dissipated energy by composites reinforced with malva fibers and

Table 2 Impact and residual velocities together with internally dissipated energy in ballistic
tested to composites reinforced with malva fibers
0% (v/v) fiber 15% (v/v) fiber 30% (v/v) fiber
CP 1 Vi 429.93 CP 5 Vi 426.87 CP 9 Vi 425.69
(m/s) (m/s) (m/s)
Vr 335.59 Vr 367.21 Vr 366.37
(m/s) (m/s) (m/s)
ΔE 288.87 ΔE 189.50 ΔE 187.93
(J) (J) (J)
CP 2 Vi 428.18 CP 6 Vi 432.01 CP 10 Vi 425.99
(m/s) (m/s) (m/s)
Vr 329.78 Vr 367.65 Vr 357.61
(m/s) (m/s) (m/s)
ΔE 298.33 ΔE 205.87 ΔE 214.34
(J) (J) (J)
CP 2 Vi 425.68 CP 7 Vi 420.43 CP 11 Vi 426.11
(m/s) (m/s) (m/s)
Vr 328.20 Vr 342.65 Vr 360.92
(m/s) (m/s) (m/s)
ΔE 293.95 ΔE 237.41 ΔE 205.24
(J) (J) (J)
CP 4 Vi 426.26 CP 8 Vi 426.03 CP 12 Vi 423.57
(m/s) (m/s) (m/s)
Vr 332.65 Vr 361.24 Vr 371.07
(m/s) (m/s) (m/s)
ΔE 284.16 ΔE 204.05 ΔE 166.90
(J) (J) (J)
ΔE average 291.33 ± 6.15 ΔE average 209.21 ± 20.18 ΔE average 193.60 ± 20.90
0% (J) 15% (J) 30% (J)
Evaluation of Ballistic Armor Behavior … 653

Table 3 Impact and residual Aramid plate Vi (m/s) Vr (m/s) DE (J)

velocities together with
internally dissipated energy in Aramid 1 427.346 347.150 248.446
ballistic tested to aramid Aramid 2 434.711 377.519 185.812
fabric Aramid 3 425.949 355.664 219.743
Aramid 4 428.515 354.878 230,747
DE average (J) 221.187 ± 26.381

Table 4 Evaluation of weight and cost of the different armor components

Armor Volume (cm3) Density Weight Price per kg Component cost
component (g/cm3) (kgf) (U.S. (U.S. dollars)
dollars)
Aramid fabric 225 1.44 0.324 63.60 20.61
Composite 0% Epoxy (100%) 1.11 0.250 2.80 0.70
—225
Malva (0%)—0 1.40 0 0.30
Composite Epoxy (85%)— 1.11 0.212 2.80 0.61
15% 191.25
Malva (15%)— 1.40 0.047 0.30
33.75
Composite Epoxy (70%)— 1.11 0.175 2.80 0.52
30% 157.5
Malva (30%)— 1.40 0.095 0.30
67.5
Total weight with aramid fabric (kgf)—0.324 Total cost with aramid fabric (US$)—20.61
Total weight with malva CP 0%— Total cost with malva CP 0%—0.70
composite (kgf) 0.250 composites (US$)—
CP 15%— 0.52 CP 15%—0.61
0.259
CP 30%— CP 30%—0.52
0.267
Percentage decrease of weight (%) CP 0%— Percentual decrease of CP 0%—96.60
22.84 costs (%)
CP 15%— CP 15%—97.04
20.06
CP 30%— CP 30%—97.48
17.60

aramid fabric respectively. The results show the great potential of composites
reinforced with malva fibers, compared to aramid fabric, especially those with a
percentage of 30 vol.% fibers.
This shows that aramid fabrics such as ballistic protection, are more efficient in
terms of energy absorbed, which composite boards reinforced with malva fibers
(84, 163 and 187% respectively).
654 L.F.C. Nascimento et al.

Fig. 7 Shatterproof body with 0% fiber after impact

Fig. 8 Epoxy composites reinforced with malva fibers after ballistic test 9 mm ammunition.
a 15% v/v fibers and b 30% v/v fibers

Moreover, it should be recalled that the aramid to be imported and a synthetic

product has a high cost related to the acquisition and processing. In addition, it has a
limited lifespan, causing environmental damage due to the degradation time after
disposal. Malva fibers, in turn, being natural, are biodegradable and have much
lower cost. Table 4 shows an estimate of costs between the composites reinforced
with malva fibers which showed weight reduction of around 20% and cost around
97% in favor of composites reinforced with malva fibers.
Figure 7 shows the plate with 0% malva fibers completely destroyed after the
ballistic test and Fig. 8 shows the composite board to 30% reinforcing fibers with
the integrity largely preserved, enabling the occurrence of new impacts on the same
plate.

Conclusions

The aramid fabric absorbed more energy than the composites reinforced with epoxy
malva fibers against 9 mm ammunition. Around 84, 163 and 187% respectively for
the samples containing 0, 15 and 30% of fibers.
Although absorb lower energy impact test specimens reinforced with 15 and
30% of malva fibers were more intact compared the samples produced with 100%
epoxy, after ballistic tests.
Evaluation of Ballistic Armor Behavior … 655

The aramid cloth was more effective in ballistic testing against 9 mm ammu-
nition, than the composites reinforced with fibers mauve. However, the use of these
natural fibers may represent weight reduction of around 20% and cost reduction
around 97%.

Acknowledgements The authors acknowledge the support to this investigation by the Brazilian
agencies CNPq, CAPES, FAPERJ and UENF for supplying the malva fibers.

References

1. da Silva LC (2014) Ballistic behavior of natural fiber epoxy composite multilayer armor.
Military Engineering Institute, Rio de Janeiro (in Portuguese)
2. Luz FS (2014) Ballistic behavior evaluation multilayered shield with epoxy composite
reinforced with jute fiber. Military Engineering Institute, Rio de Janeiro (in Portuguese)
3. National Supply Company (CONAB) (2015) Juta Malva, Conab, 2015. [Online]. Available:
http://www.conab.gov.br/OlalaCMS/uploads/arquivos/15_04_14_17_05_50_juta_malva. Accessed
18 May 2016 (in Portuguese)
4. Veríssimo A, Pereira D (2014) Production forest in the Amazon: characteristics, challenges and
opportunities. Strateg Partnerships 19:13–44 (in Portuguese)
5. Teixeira AMJ (2007) Collapsible bridge composite material fiberglass. Federal University of
Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro (in Portuguese)
6. Margem JI (2013) Analysis of structural characteristics and properties of polymer composites
reinforced with malva fibers. State University of Norte Fluminense (in Portuguese)
7. Oliveira JTS (1998) Characterization of eucalyptus wood for construction. Polytechnic School
of the University of São Paulo, São Paulo (in Portuguese)