Ballistic resistant article comprising a plurality of multilayered material sheets

Abstract

The invention relates to a ballistic resistant article comprising at least one multilayered sheet, said sheet comprising a consolidated stack of monolayers, said monolayers comprising fibers, characterized in that the total thickness of said article is at least 100 mm. The invention also relates to the use of the ballistic resistant article to protect against high speed projectiles and Explosively Formed Projectiles.

1 . Ballistic resistant article comprising at least one multilayered sheet, said sheet comprising a consolidated stack of monolayers, said monolayers comprising
 fibers, characterized in that the total thickness of said article is at least 100 mm.   
     
     
         2 . Ballistic resistant article according to  claim 1  wherein the fibers are manufactured from a polymeric material chosen from the group consisting of polyolefin e.g. polyethylene or polypropylene; polybenzoxazole;
 polybenzothiazole; polyvinyl alcohol; polyacrylonitrile; liquid crystal copolyester; rigid rod polymers, polyamides and aramids. 
 
     
     
         3 . Ballistic resistant article according to  claim 1  comprising a plurality of superimposed multilayered material sheets, the sheets comprising a consolidated stack of unidirectional monolayers of drawn high molecular weight polyolefin, whereby the draw direction of two subsequent monolayers in the stack differs, with the proviso that the total thickness of the article is at least 100 mm. 
     
     
         4 . Ballistic resistant article according to  claim 3 , wherein the consolidated stacks of unidirectional monolayers in the article comprise at least 10 unidirectional monolayers, more preferably at least 20 unidirectional monolayers, even more preferably at least 40 unidirectional monolayers. 
     
     
         5 . Ballistic resistant article according to  claim 1 , wherein the article comprises at least two stacks of a plurality of superimposed multilayered material sheets, the stacks being held together by securing means. 
     
     
         6 . Ballistic resistant article according to  claim 1 , comprising a plurality of superimposed multilayered material sheets which have been consolidated under temperature and pressure. 
     
     
         7 . Ballistic resistant article according to  claim 1 , having a total areal density ranging between 100 kg/in 2  and 400 kg/in 2 , more preferably between 100 kg/in 2  and 300 kg/in 2 , even more preferably between 100 kg/in 2  and 260 kg/in 2 , and most preferably between 100 kg/in 2  and 220 kg/in 2 . 
     
     
         8 . Ballistic resistant article according to  claim 1 , further comprising one or more sheets of material selected from the group consisting of ceramic, steel, aluminum, magnesium, titanium, nickel, chromium and iron or their alloys, glass and graphite, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         9 . Ballistic resistant article according to  claim 8 , wherein the sheet of material is positioned at the outside of the stack of monolayers at least at the strike face thereof. 
     
     
         10 . Ballistic resistant article according to  claim 1 , wherein the fibers are manufactured from ultra high molecular weight polyethylene. 
     
     
         11 . Ballistic resistant article according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one monolayer comprises a plurality of unidirectional tapes of the drawn polyolefin, aligned in the same direction. 
     
     
         12 . Ballistic resistant article according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one monolayer comprises a plurality of drawn polyolefin fibres embedded in a matrix in parallel arrangement. 
     
     
         13 . Ballistic resistant article comprising at least one layer comprising a woven fabric of drawn polyolefin fibres and/or polyolefin tapes respectively. 
     
     
         14 . The use of a ballistic resistant article according to  claim 1 , to protect against high speed projectiles impacting with a speed of at least 1000 m/s, more preferably at least 1500 m/s, even more preferably at least 2000 m/s, and most preferably at least 3000 m/s. 
     
     
         15 . The use of a ballistic resistant article according to  claim 1 , to protect against Explosively Formed Projectiles. 
     
     
         16 . The use of a ballistic resistant article according to  claim 1  in catching high speed projectiles impacting with a speed of at least 1000 m/s, more preferably at least 1500 m/s, even more preferably at least 2000 m/s, and most preferably at least 3000 m/s, Improvised Explosive Devices and/or Explosively Formed Projectiles.