Delamination controlled ballistic resistance of polyethylene/polyethylene composite materials

We have investigated ballistic response of polyethylene/polyethylene (PE/PE) composites to impact by Uzi bullets. For comparison, limited work was carried out on PE/aramid fiber hybrids and PE fiber/Polycarbonate plate laminates. The plates exhibited an average ballistic resistance, V₅₀, of approximately 90 m/s per 1 kg/m² area density. In term of the protection level per thickness, the ballistic resistance was 76 m/s per 1 mm. Visual and microscopic examinations identified indentation and delamination as the prevailing failure mechanisms. The delamination, energy calculated on the basis of a simple delamination model considering the fracture surface energy of the matrix, was shown to fully balance the dissipated kinetic energy of the bullet, while the contribution of the fiber fracture process was negligible. This is taken as strong circumstantial evidence for the significant role of this failure process in the ballistic resistance of these composites.