Ballistic Performance of Coconut Shell Powder/Twaron Fabricagainst Non-armour Piercing Projectiles

Abstract

Body armour technologists over the years are seeking to develop protective systems whichare both effective and lightweight. However these hard armour materials are very expensive andhave certain weight constraints. From this point of view, natural fibres and fillers have attractedthe attention of researchers due to their low density with high specific strengths, abundance,availability, renewability and being environmental-friendly. This paper reports the potential useof coconut shell powder-epoxy composite (COEX) panel bonded with Twaron CT716 fabric asa hard armour material and the characteristics of its fracture imprints from a specific threat levelwhen subjected to ballistic tests1 (NIJ Standard 0108.01). It was observed that the imprint patternson the particulate composite (COEX) could be identified according to effectiveness in impactenergy dissipation. COEX/Twaron test panel was found to withstand impact equivalent to NIJLevel IIIA using 9 mm FMJ ammunition but perforated at NIJ Level III of 7.62 mm FMJ bulletimpacts. Test results showed that COEX panel do possess shock absorbance characteristics andcan be utilised as  an armour component in the hard-body armour system. Dependency onTwaron fabric layers as ballistic reinforcements has been reduced up to 3-time with 170 per centimprovement on energy-absorption capabilities when using COEX composite as the frontalcomponent of the armour.