Natural body armour, an evaluation of portable regeneration and mechanically stronger fibres

• Main Author: Choo, Yeow Chun
• Other Authors: Zhao Wenting
• Format: Theses and Dissertations
• Language: English
• Published: 2018
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Bioengineering
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/75249
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Polyaramid is a polymeric material that is used in ballistic projection due to its light weight and high mechanical strength. Ballistics protection depends on the weaving pattern and density which aids to dissipate the impact force from the ballistics and prevents penetration. The fibre must be tough to allow the dissipation of kinetic energy from the ballistic. After the initial impact from the projectile, some level of fibre breakage is expected on the body armour and repair work on such body armours are not possible in the field of operations and thus poor serviceability or huge logistic burden. This review aims to seek insights into a portable body armour repair kit consisting of nanocellulose crystals. It also spins off into a composite based body armour composing of goethite and nanocellulose composites that could exhibit higher mechanical strength as compared to polyaramid and resist higher calibre rounds or reducing the plating materials used in reinforcing the body armour. As functional data are not available, this review will be based on mechanical strength vs polyaramid to evaluate the possibility of a natural body armour.