Recovery of Level III Ballistic Plates by Reinforcing and Renewing Their Structural Components

Abstract

The research focuses on recovering level III ballistic plates, consisting of a soft part (Aramid) and a rigid part (ballistic ceramic), that have completed their useful life by reinforcing and renewing their structural components, using composite material lamination methods. For this, a procedure based on reverse engineering was carried out to study the internal configuration of the plates and the characterization of each of the components. As a result, it was determined that Kevlar 49 has lost its mechanical properties by degradation, while the ceramic material maintains its physical and mechanical properties. Finally, level III ballistic plates were manufactured with different configurations and using colloidal silica nanofillers to perform impact tests. It was determined that the most resistant configuration has Dyneema as the soft part, improving 9.48% by weight and 7.61% resistance to ballistic impact.