<b>Abstract.</b> The long-term stability of materials used in body armour is of the utmost importance to the law enforcement and military communities. While previous studies have examined the effect of ageing on virgin ultra- high molar mass polyethylene (UHMMPE) fibres on metrics such as oxygen uptake and tensile strength, no one has focused on the unidirectional soft ballistic inserts in which these materials are typically used. In this work, physical and chemical changes in UHMMPE fibres extracted from laboratory aged armor are investigated. Our results suggest that UHMMPE fibres extracted from unidirectional soft ballistic inserts have a lower crystallinity and a different morphological distribution than virgin fibres. Microscopic examination of the extracted fibres also revealed the formation of kink bands, which are a morphological deformation of several successive bands at an angle of 50° to 60° to the fibre axis. This is mainly attributed to mechanical stress and increased compression of the fibres. Our data also suggests that the oxygen concentration is higher at these kink bands as compared to non-defective areas of the same fibre. This presentation will examine the mechanisms of degradation in unidirectional soft ballistic inserts containing UHMMPE fibres.

Degradation mechanisms in unidirectional UHMMPE soft ballistic inserts

251st National Meeting (2016)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.