Ballistic performances of different sandwich structure configurations produced from PMCs and MMCs: An experimental study

Abstract

This study investigates the ballistic behaviors of a novel sandwich structure produced from metal matrix composites (MMCs) and polymer matrix composites (PMCs). Utilizing the powder metallurgy method, specifically the hot pressing technique, superior-quality MMC samples were created by applying pressure and heat simultaneously. The MMC materials underwent surface preparation, including grinding and polishing, to ensure cleanliness and enhance bonding with the PMC layers. Aramid fiber reinforced prepregs were used for the PMC layers in hybrid laminates. Pre-cut prepregs were placed on MMC plates and bonded together using vacuum and hot press methods to produce PMC-MMC hybrid laminates. Five distinct hybrid laminates were developed, including configurations of equal thickness consisting entirely of PMC and MMC, to assess their performance under ballistic tests at three different velocity levels of approximately 600 m/s, 660 m/s, and 765 m/s. The results indicate that none of the samples fully penetrated at the first velocity level (600 m/s), with the resistance ranking from most to least penetrated being S-5-1 (MMC) (10 mm), S-2-1 (MMC-PMC) (11.5 mm), S-1-1 (PMC-MMC) (12 mm), S-3-1 (PMC-MMC-PMC) (13.5 mm), and S-4-1 (PMC) (18 mm). Notably, the S-2 sample exhibited no penetration across all test speeds. At the second velocity level (660 m/s), while some samples experienced penetration, the S-2-2 (MMC-PMC) remained intact, highlighting its resilience. The third velocity level (765 m/s) demonstrated that the S-2 sample continued to withstand penetration, further establishing its superiority successfully. The findings underscore the significant role of the material configuration in ballistic resistance and provide foresight into optimizing composite structures for enhanced performance in defense applications.