Ballistic Behavior of Epoxy Composites Reinforced with Amazon Titica Vine Fibers () in Multilayered Armor System and as Stand-Alone Target.

Seeking to improve personal armor equipment by providing mobility and resistance to penetration, this research aimed to explore the potential of sustainable materials in order to assess their ability in ballistic applications. Titica vine fibers (TVFs) extracted from aerial roots of from the Amazon region were incorporated at 10, 20, 30, and 40 vol% into an epoxy matrix for applications in ballistic multilayered armor systems (MASs) and stand-alone tests for personal protection against high-velocity 7.62 mm ammunition.

Ballistic Performance, Thermal and Chemical Characterization of Ubim Fiber () Reinforced Epoxy Matrix Composites.

The search for unexplored natural materials as an alternative to synthetic components has driven the development of novel polymeric composites reinforced with environmentally-friendly materials. Natural lignocellulosic fibers (NLFs) have been highlighted as potential reinforcement in composite materials for engineering applications. In this work, a less known Amazonian fiber, the ubim fiber (), is investigated as a possible reinforcement in epoxy composites and was, for the first time, thermally characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC).

Jackfruit: Composition, structure, and progressive collapsibility in the largest fruit on the Earth for impact resistance.

The jackfruit is the largest fruit on the Earth, reaching upwards of 35 kg and falling from heights of 25 m. To survive such high energy impacts, it has evolved a unique layered configuration with a thorny exterior and porous tubular underlayer. During compression, these layers exhibit a progressive collapse mechanism where the tubules are first to deform, followed by the thorny exterior, and finally the mesocarp layer in between.

Energy Absorption and Ballistic Performance of Epoxy Composite Reinforced with Arapaima Scales.

Arapaima scales possess a hierarchical structure capable of absorbing a considerable amount of energy before fracture. These natural dermal armors present significant potential in the sustainable development of cost-effective composites. This work aimed, for the first time, to analyze the impact resistance and ballistic performance of arapaima scale-reinforced epoxy composites and their potential application in multilayered armor systems (MAS).

Water Immersion Aging of Epoxy Resin and Fique Fabric Composites: Dynamic-Mechanical and Morphological Analysis.

Fiber-reinforced composites are among the most investigated and industrially applied materials. Many studies on these composites using fibers, especially with natural fibers, were made in response to an urgent action for ambient preservation. A particularly relevant situation exists nowadays in the area of materials durability.

Dynamic and Ballistic Performance of Uni- and Bidirectional Pineapple Leaf Fibers (PALF)-Reinforced Epoxy Composites Functionalized with Graphene Oxide.

Replacing synthetic fibers with natural ones as reinforcement in polymeric composites is an alternative to contribute to sustainability. Pineapple leaf fibers (PALF) have specific mechanical properties that allow their use as reinforcement. Further, graphene oxide (GO) has aroused interest due to its distinctive properties that allow the improvement of fiber/matrix interfacial adhesion.

Equine hoof wall: Structure, properties, and bioinspired designs.

The horse hoof wall exhibits exceptional impact resistance and fracture control due to its unique hierarchical structure which contains tubular, lamellar, and gradient configurations. In this study, structural characterization of the hoof wall was performed revealing features previously unknown. Prominent among them are tubule bridges, which are imaged and quantified.

Dynamic and Ballistic Performance of Graphene Oxide Functionalized Curaua Fiber-Reinforced Epoxy Nanocomposites.

Graphene oxide (GO) functionalized curaua fiber (CF) has been shown to improve the mechanical properties and ballistic performance of epoxy matrix (EM) nanocomposites with 30 vol% fiber. However, the possibility of further improvement in the property and performance of nanocomposites with a greater percentage of GO functionalized CF is still a challenging endeavor. In the present work, a novel epoxy composite reinforced with 40 vol% CF coated with 0.

Ballistic Performance of Ramie Fabric Reinforcing Graphene Oxide-Incorporated Epoxy Matrix Composite.

Graphene oxide (GO) incorporation in natural fiber composites has recently defined a novel class of materials with enhanced properties for applications, including ballistic armors. In the present work, the performance of a 0.5 vol % GO-incorporated epoxy matrix composite reinforced with 30 vol % fabric made of ramie fibers was investigated by stand-alone ballistic tests against the threat of a 0.