Ballistic composite panels with differing densities

Abstract

A multi-paneled penetration resistant composite comprises a layered panel configuration that mitigates transmission of impact stress. For example, areas of varying density within a multi-layer panel are configured to can mitigate transmission of stress between adjacent, or proximate, composite layers within a panel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A multilayer composite ballistic panel having regions of differing densities, comprising:
 a first region of at least one first layer of woven fabric material comprising metal salt, oxide, hydroxide or hydride polar bonded onto the at least one first layer of material, the first region having a first density;   a second region of at least one second layer of woven fabric material comprising metal salt, oxide, hydroxide or hydride polar bonded onto the at least one second layer of woven fabric material, the second region having a second density; and   a third region of at least one third layer of woven fabric material having a third density and comprising metal salt, oxide, hydroxide or hydride polar bonded onto the at least one third layer of woven fabric material, the third region having a third density, wherein the at least one second layer is disposed between the at least one first layer and the at least one third layer,   wherein the second region of the at least one second layer is configured to mitigate stress propagation into the third layer caused by deformation of the at least one first layer, wherein the second density is less than the first and third densities for mitigating the stress propagation.   
     
     
         2 . The multilayer composite ballistic panel of  claim 1 , wherein the first density is greater than the third density. 
     
     
         3 . The multilayer composite ballistic panel of  claim 2 , wherein the first density is at least 10% greater than the second or third densities. 
     
     
         4 . The multilayer composite ballistic panel of  claim 1 , wherein the first density is less than the third density. 
     
     
         5 . The multilayer composite ballistic panel of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one fourth region of at least one fourth layer of woven fabric material having a fourth density and comprising metal salt, oxide, hydroxide or hydride polar bonded onto the at least one fourth layer of woven fabric material. 
     
     
         6 . The multilayer composite ballistic panel of  claim 1 , wherein the first region has a different density of bonded metal salt, oxide, hydroxide or hydride than the second region. 
     
     
         7 . The multilayer composite ballistic panel of  claim 1 , wherein the first region has a greater density of bonded metal salt, oxide, hydroxide or hydride than the second region. 
     
     
         8 . The multilayer composite ballistic panel of  claim 1 , wherein the first region has a different metal salt, oxide, hydroxide or hydride compound bound to the woven fabric material than the second region. 
     
     
         9 . The multilayer composite ballistic panel of  claim 8 , wherein the third region has a different metal salt, oxide, hydroxide or hydride compound bound to the woven fabric material than the second region. 
     
     
         10 . The multilayer composite ballistic panel of  claim 1 , wherein the first region has a different woven fabric material than the second region. 
     
     
         11 . The multi-panel ballistic composite article of  claim 10 , wherein the first region has a different S-2 glass, polyamide, polyphenylene sulfide, polyethylene, high modulus polyethylene, carbon or graphite woven fabric material than the second region. 
     
     
         12 . The multilayer composite ballistic panel of  claim 1 , wherein the third region has a different woven fabric material than the second region. 
     
     
         13 . The multi-panel ballistic composite article of  claim 12 , wherein the third region has a different S-2 glass, polyamide, polyphenylene sulfide, polyethylene, high modulus polyethylene, carbon or graphite woven fabric material than the second region. 
     
     
         14 . The multilayer composite ballistic panel of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first layer of woven fabric and the at least one second layer of woven fabric have a different weave pattern. 
     
     
         15 . The multilayer composite ballistic panel of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one first layer of woven fabric has a first filament diameter and the at least one second layer of woven fabric has a second filament diameter, and the first and second filament diameters are different. 
     
     
         16 . The multilayer composite ballistic panel of  claim 1 , wherein at least one first layer of woven fabric material has a first loading density of metal salt, oxide, hydroxide or hydride polar bonded onto the at least one first layer of material and the at least one second layer of woven fabric material has a second loading density of metal salt, oxide, hydroxide or hydride polar bonded onto the at least one second layer of material, and the first and second loading densities are different. 
     
     
         17 . The multilayer composite ballistic panel of  claim 16 , wherein at least one third layer of woven fabric material has a third loading density of metal salt, oxide, hydroxide or hydride polar bonded onto the at least one third layer of material and the first, second and third loading densities are different.