Solid materials, such as reinforced steel and Kevlar, dominate the field of ballistic resistant materials. However, polymers continue to exhibit high potential for ballistic mitigation and absorption. Many polymers are amorphous, existing in one of three temperature-dependent states: glassy, high elastic, and viscous liquid. The amorphous nature of polymers allows for unique characteristics, such as enhanced flexibility, which could improve shockwave absorption from high impact occurrences. Polymers can be further modified by changing backbone composition, side chain compositions, chain length, etc., creating hundreds of thousands of potential materials for ballistic mitigation testing. While some research has been completed to study how chemical modification of polymers affects ballistic mitigation, there is little knowledge about how the fundamental amorphous state of polymers affects ballistic mitigation. Understanding how the amorphous nature affects shockwave mitigation can provide insights and directions in the generation of polymers with improved ballistic mitigation properties. In this project, we examine shockwave propagation in both liquid and solid potassium, and a common polymer, amorphous polyethylene (PE), using molecular dynamics. The shape of the response wave as it propagates through the mediums are compared and key differences are observed between the solid, liquid, and amorphous materials. Analysis of the shockwave propagation and shape provides fundamental information to the mechanisms of shockwave dissipation in amorphous materials.

Amorphous polymer effects on shockwave shape and propagation via molecular dynamic simulations

Fall 2022 abstracts, posters, and presentations will launch in mid-September.

ACS Fall 2022

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