X-Ray Diffraction Analysis of Control and Test Fibers

Abstract

A series of fabric test panels, test fired with a 17 grain fragment simulating projectile (FSP), of armor materials made from Spectra 1000 (Allied-Signal Corporation) high tenacity polyethylene fibers were examined by wide-angle X-ray diffraction. A new procedure was developed for averaging out the orientation of fiber or fabric samples in order to yield data suitable for the determination of crystallinity. Data on the undamaged fabric show an average crystallinity of 0.65, with an orthorhombic fraction of 0.61, and the metastable monoclinic phase fraction at 0.04. Ballistic impact resulted at the damage zone in either an increase in the monoclinic fraction, attributable to recrystallization, or to total eradication of the monoclinic phase, attributable to melting. Thus, the monoclinic content is useful for characterizing the thermomechanical effects which the fibers have undergone; monoclinic melting predominates when ballistic penetration is complete. The predominant orthorhombic phase is generally reduced in mass fraction by the ballistic impact event. Keywords: Bullet proof fabrics; Armor; Terminal Ballistics.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 01, 1989
Accession Number
ADA211688

Entities

People

  • C. R. Desper

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Space
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Advanced Materials
  • Air Force
  • Bragg Angle
  • Crystal Structure
  • Crystals
  • Diffraction
  • Diffraction Analysis
  • Diffractometers
  • Engineered Materials
  • Materials
  • Materials Engineering
  • Materials Science
  • Materials Testing
  • Military Research
  • Payload
  • Test Methods
  • X-Ray Diffraction

Readers

  • Powder metallurgy of Titanium alloys.
  • Reinforced Composite Materials
  • ballistics.