ANALYSIS OF HYBRID COMPOSITES OF 3-D WOVEN CARBON FIBRE AND PARTICULATES REINFORCED ULTRA-HIGH DENSITY POLYETHYLENE FOR HUMAN HARD BODY ARMOUR APPLICATION
The insecurity which has taken over the nation gave rise for the research and development of Human Hard Body Armour protection. The device serves as an important tool in the hands of military and para-military for protection against projectile. This research aimed at designing and producing hard body armour hybrid composite materials. A hybrid composite from the 6cm of (3-D) woven mat Carbon Fibre and particulates: 0.075µm Metal Chips (Mild Steel), 0.075µm of Aluminium Silicate (Glass), 0.040µm Alumina (Ceramic) were the reinforcements while the smelted ultra-high-density Polyethylene was the matrix for the production of the hard human armour. The percentage by weight of Polyethylene (matrix) was varied from 44wt% to 76wt% for optimization. The sample specimen of composites were produced for Mechanical property tests; Tensile Strength of (10x15x100)mm3, Impact Strength of (10x10x100)mm3, Flexural Strength of (30x30x100)mm3, and Hardness Strength of (30x30)mm2. The experimental results showed that the highest Tensile Strength of 113MPa, Impact Strength of 2.855J, Flexural Strength of 122.517MPa and Hardness Strength of 67Hv were obtained. The variation of the storage modulus 350MPa (E’) of the percentage by weight of resin in composite was determined. The loss modulus (E’’) as a function of temperature for the composite was analysed and the variation of the damping factor 0.27 (Tan δ) as a function of temperature of the composite was considered. The Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) showed that the Human Hard Body Armour could withstand impact energy at the temperature of 115oC. It is hereby recommended that more research work should be carried out using local materials readily available with high mechanical properties to minimize cost.
Authors : Agbo, S., Sumaila, M. and Umaru, S.
Category : Open Access Volume (Issue) : 8(1) Date Uploaded : 18th September 2022