EP0655600B1 - Material for anti-ballistic body protection - Google Patents

Abstract

A material for anti-ballistic body protection, which has at least one layer of a flat material, which contains an organic product which gives it dilatancy, in a single-layer or multilayer packet laminate. This flat material is particularly suitable for the trauma packet in the anti-ballistic packet. This flat material having a product which gives it dilatancy results in a considerable improvement in the anti-ballistic effect and particularly in a reduction in the trauma effect. The material according to the invention is used in particular for bullet-proof vests and fragment-proof vests and for equivalent helmets. The material according to the invention can also be used for impact-protection clothing (cladding).

Description

The invention relates to a material for body protection, especially for antiballistic body protection, in shape of single or multi-layer packages or laminates, whereby at least one of the layers consists of a flat structure, that contains a dilatancy product. This is already see US-A-3 649 426.

To protect people from gunshot wounds that especially through the action of projectiles and Splinters that hit the body at high speed encounter, arise, were numerous materials and Constructions suggested. Among the materials are especially textile fabrics, especially woven fabrics Aramid fibers, often found. The constructions concern especially so-called antiballistic packages, the means packets of several thin ones arranged one above the other Fabrics, predominantly woven fabrics that are glued together, are pressed, sewn or quilted.

When it comes to materials for personal protection, it is important lightweight products with the best possible comfort for To make available. But there has to be a compromise here between antiballistic effectiveness, i.e. Protective effect for the person to be protected, and comfort will. So it is known that the increase in the number of layers or increasing the basis weight of the individual layers can improve the protective effect in most cases. However, this leads to heavy antiballistic protective clothing and thus to a deteriorated wearing comfort.

So-called body protection is particularly important Trauma package too. If on one on the body worn protective clothing hits a projectile, so this is due to the layers of the antiballistic Parcel braked so that it does not penetrate the body and injuries to the wearer of the protective clothing can cause. The impact of the projectile creates but a kind of shock effect and resulting from it possibly a trauma. This effect should be through the trauma package, that in the antiballistic package adjacent to the body is arranged, damped and thus reduced.

For the construction of this trauma package have already been different embodiments proposed. So look GB-A-2 234 156 therefor a layer of deformable plastic, to a fabric made of antiballistically effective Material is attached before.

One in a fabric covering made of aliphatic polyamide fibers introduced trauma package from one location Fabric made of antiballistic effective fibers, one layer made of a flexible, semi-rigid polycarbonate and several Layers of easily compressible foam is in US-A-4 774 724.

Also find rubberized and pressed together Layers of fabrics made of antiballistically effective fibers Trauma package use.

The previously proposed embodiments for reduction of trauma when projectiles hit but in most cases not the one you want Effectiveness. Some of the suggested solutions significantly reduce the comfort of protective clothing because the special anti-trauma layers the weight and the thickness and especially the stiffness of protective clothing increase insignificantly.

So there was the task of materials for protective clothing with unchanged or less weight, with higher Flexibility and with improved anti-trauma effectiveness too develop.

It has now surprisingly been found that this task in can be solved in a particularly advantageous manner, that according to the characteristic part of the Claim 1 of this product imparting dilatancy is an organic compound. Further refinements are in claims 2-11 featured.

The use of dilatant materials in ballistics was already described in US-A-3 649 426. There will be as Systems providing dilatancy Mixtures of inorganic Materials such as metal oxides or silicon dioxide powder, called liquids with dipole character. These mixtures are either in container-like structures introduced with liquid-tight walls or them are embedded in a polymer matrix. In the latter In this case, the polymer partially takes on the role of the liquid. In this form there is also a layered arrangement possible.

Using those suggested in US-A-3,649,426 Dilated systems as body protection must be a bad one Comfort to be accepted. In addition, as will be shown in more detail in the comparative example, only a slight antiballistic effect with the one proposed here Embodiment can be achieved.

The disadvantages mentioned can be avoided if individual layers of the antiballistic package and special one or more layers of the trauma package from one Flat structures consist of that with organic, dilatancy lending products has been soaked or loaded.

The phenomenon of dilatancy is not yet sufficient explainable. This is generally understood to mean the occurrence of a solidification or volume change of a Substance due to sudden mechanical stress, especially when exposed to thrust or after imprinting a shear gradient, whereby time influences or time effects cannot be measured.

In the event of a sudden mechanical action such as that of Impact of a bullet occurs due to combined shear and compression loads one Volume change leading to a sharp increase in transferable shear forces.

Substances conferring dilatancy are in the sense of Invention to understand all of the substances involved in a sudden mechanical action a consolidation or Have volume change in the manner described above.

The best known examples are dilated systems Mixtures of quartz sand with water. To form the Water is often used in the liquid phase, but also other liquids with dipole character can be used for this Find. As shown in the comparative example such systems are little for body protection suitable.

Compounds with dilating properties are also under the organic compounds known. For dilated systems suitable polymers are styrene or its derivatives. Copolymers of styrene with acrylic acid are particularly suitable or methacrylic acid or its ester. Are next to it also other copolymers of styrene, polyacrylic acid and Polymethacrylic acid compounds for this area of application suitable. Other products for this are polyvinyl chloride and polyvinylidene chloride and the respective copolymers.

The polymers listed here are for manufacturing the materials of the invention are well suited. This one enumeration made is intended only as an example and not to be understood restrictively. To make the Materials according to the invention can be used in the sense of Invention all organic compounds that the impregnated or loaded fabrics dilatante Give properties.

The polymers imparting the dilatancy are preferred in Form of dispersions towards the body protection clothing too processing fabrics applied. This Dispersions that are available as commercial products contain often in addition to the polymer and water further products, for example alkyl esters of Phthalic acid.

The fabrics intended for body protection, the containing a dilatance conferring product are preferred Textile fabrics with a good absorption capacity for polymer dispersions. Nonwovens are suitable for this particularly good. Spunbonded or made of spun or short fibers Nonwovens produced can also be used Find.

Regarding the type of fiber for the production of the nonwoven there are no restrictions. Nonwovens are well suited made of polyester or polyamide fibers, but also nonwovens from other synthetic fibers as well as from native or regenerated cellulose fibers can be used Find. Can also be used as fiber material for manufacturing the nonwovens also in antiballistic body protection very often used aramid fiber, often also as called aromatic polyamide fiber. Another fiber with good antiballistic effectiveness, the use for the production of such a nonwoven fabric can find, is after the gel spinning process manufactured polyethylene fiber.

In addition to nonwovens, which are used as backing materials for the Dilatancy-imparting product for the production of the invention Preferred use of materials, other textile fabrics such as fabrics, Knitted fabrics, scrims, sewing textiles and other than Carrier of the product providing the dilatancy come. It is important that a good receptivity for the product containing the dilatancy Dispersion is given. In addition, are suitable as such carrier materials also non-textile fabrics such as foams. The best results in With regard to the antiballistic effectiveness Nonwovens as carriers of the substance exhibiting dilatancy achieved. These also usually turn out to be due to the low starting weight for protective clothing as special suitable.

The dispersion that provides dilatancy The proposed fabric is soaked in the dispersion and slightly squeezed. Because a high amount of dilatancy lending product on the carrier material required high bath concentrations must be used. So For example, an immersion bath for the equipment of the Carrier material with approximately equal parts of water and commercial dispersion of the dilatant Product. Depending on the desired effect, according to Art the application and the solids content of the dispersion of the Dilatance conferring product can be the ratio of Water to disperse the dilatant product in the treatment bath, for example, also between 3: 7 and 7: 3 vary. The numbers given here are just like the percentages below, only to be understood as examples and not restrictive.

For the application of the dilatance conferring product on the carrier material are so-called block processes, which continuously, for example on a foulard can be particularly well suited. This procedure are generally known in textile finishing. A special variants are block processes, in which the Treatment bath not in a chassis, but in one of the gusset formed gusset. A other methods of application are splash processes, which are also well known in textile finishing.

In addition to the application from a bathroom in a conventional form foam application can also be carried out. This too Method is well known in textile finishing.

After the application of the dilatance conferring product is on the carrier material, for example with the help of a Pair of rollers, as is present on a foulard, squeezed. The degree of squeezing after the wet treatment for example, set so that the finished carrier material after squeezing about 30 - 70% of the applied Contains dispersion. With a bath concentration 50% dispersion must therefore increase the weight of the treated carrier material after squeezing approx. 60 - 140%, based on the dry carrier material, be.

In addition to those already mentioned, there are other types of application of the product conferring dilatancy on the Carrier material possible. Spraying can also be used, for example or pouring. You can also use the above concentrations are worked.

When using chemical fibers to manufacture the Carrier materials can be the product that provides dilatancy already in the manufacturing process of the fiber, for example together with the preparation, applied to the fiber will.

Those equipped with a dilatancy Fabric can be wet or dry in protective clothing Find use. Dry use is preferred. For this it is necessary to use the finished fabric dry after wet treatment. This drying should gentle, this means at relatively low Temperatures. The drying temperature judges depends on the type of polymer used. So for Example with polystyrene or its copolymers Do not exceed the drying temperature of 80 ° C.

In addition to the preferred dry use of the one Dilatance-conferring product-equipped fabrics wet use is also possible. Here you will find the equal concentrations of the dispersion that the dilatancy lending product contains, application as in the Dry use. In the case of wet use, the must fabric equipped with a dilatance-imparting product in a water vapor-tight envelope, for example a Polyethylene film to be sealed. In this form the product conferring a dilatancy is equipped Flat structures as a layer in the antiballistic Parcel brought.

Those equipped with a dilatancy Fabric can be used in a variety of forms in body protection Find use. A preferred application is use of these materials according to the invention in antiballistic Protective clothing, particularly preferred as Traumal position in antiballistic protective clothing. Such Antiballistic protective clothing is shaped, for example worn by the west, often referred to as bulletproof vests. The actual protective layer forms in these vests the so-called antiballistic package that often from a high number of layers of Aramid fiber fabrics sewn together, quilted, are glued or pressed. Packages with 28 such layers are for example in bulletproof vests common.

According to the usual expression, they are together quilted or sewn layers usually referred to as packages, with pressed or glued layers is often from Laminates spoken. The expression package can also be used as Umbrella term to be understood for all types of consolidation.

In such vests, for example, a fabric equipped with a dilatance-imparting product can be introduced into the antiballistic package, which fabric can form, for example, one of a total of 28 layers of such a package or an additional layer. The remaining layers consist, for example, of fabrics made from aromatic polyamide fibers with a weight per unit area of approximately 200 g / m ² . However, the invention is not restricted to the use of only one layer of a flat structure which contains a product imparting dilatancy. Depending on the desired effect, several layers of the antiballistic package can also consist of these flat structures. The number of the usual fabric layers can possibly be reduced when using several layers of flat structures which contain a product imparting dilatancy.

The flat structure, the a The product that gives dilatancy contains, in the trauma package, the means in the antiballistic layers adjacent to the body Package, arranged. When using this Fabric in the trauma positions of the antiballistic This acts as a kind of shock absorber. The one at Impact on a projectile can cause trauma by the body-close arrangement of one with a dilatancy conferring product equipped sheet be significantly reduced. A good antiballistic Effectiveness and a reduction in the trauma effect but also observed when the fabric, the one Dilatance-conferring product contains, in a more distant body Location of the antiballistic package arranged becomes. For example, a particularly good antiballistic and anti-trauma effect achieved when in the trauma package and in a position far from the body at least one fabric with a dilatant Product can be arranged.

The special trauma situations mentioned are particularly important for Protective clothing in the form of bullet-resistant vests is common. In in the same way, but also a special trauma situation a helmet with the help of a flat structure that a Contains dilatance-conferring product.

The information given here on the arrangement of the layers of Flat structures, the product that gives a dilatancy included, apply equally to the dry and for the wet use of these fabrics.

A particularly beneficial effect of having a dilatancy with the finished product its use in the trauma package is observed when, seen from the outside, behind the trauma package is a so-called Support layer is used. This support layer is in a particularly preferred embodiment, a fabric made of aramid fibers, just like in the antiballistic package itself finds use. In the same way, however other fabrics made from high-strength fibers, especially from Fibers with antiballistic effectiveness, as a support layer Find use. In addition to fabrics made from aramid fibers especially fabrics made of high-strength polyethylene fibers, which were spun according to the gel spinning process. But also fabrics from other fibers like carbon fibers, Polyester fibers or polyamide fibers can be used as a support layer be used. In addition to fabrics, other textiles Find fabrics as a support layer.

The planar structure to act as a support layer, for example a fabric made of aramid fibers is usually not included a dilatance-giving product. It is but also possible with the flat structure of the support layer to equip such a product.

The material according to the invention is suitable due to the Advantages described especially for ball and splinter-resistant Vests and appropriate protective suits. It but can also be used for antiballistic in the same way effective helmets are used.

Another possible use is the use of the material according to the invention for impact protection clothing, such as partly with athletes, but also as work safety clothing, Is used. Here it comes Phenomenon of dilatancy to impact in a similar manner as in antiballistic protective clothing.

As has been shown and how this is the embodiments prove even further, is with the invention Material a clear protective effect in body protection clothing achieved. This is especially true for antiballistic Protective clothing, in addition to one clearly increased protective effect no impairment of the Comfort is observed. In a very special way the material according to the invention as a shock absorber, ie to reduce the trauma effect, in the antiballistic Package proven suitable.

Comparative example

In this example, the one included in US-A 3,649,426 Teaching for use in antiballistic body protection reworked. The mixture of 80% quartz sand, 16% glycerin and 4% water are used. This mixture was in the form of a 20 mm thick shaped body placed in a sleeve made of polyethylene film and one Bombardment attempted. With this thickness became a measure chosen, which is an extreme case of antiballistic protective clothing represents. Usually the thicknesses are antiballistic layers in bulletproof vests between 5 and 15 mm.

The molded body inserted into a film from the mixture mentioned was bombarded with 9 mm para-ammunition. This package was shot through completely at a shooting speed of 200 m / sec. In a normal antiballistic package consisting of, for example, 28 layers of an aramid fabric with a surface weight of approx. 200 g / m ² , the penetration only occurs above 460 m / sec. If, in this package of 28 layers, one layer according to the invention is replaced by a polyester fleece equipped with a dilatance-imparting product, so that in the antiballistic package there are 27 layers of aramid fabric and one layer of a polyester fleece equipped with a dilatance-imparting product, then only at 510 m / sec a bullet observed.

This result shows that in the prior art as Dilatancy lending proposed inorganic material is unsuitable for antiballistic body protection. Of the Shaped body produced according to US Pat. No. 3,649,426 shows in one Thickness well above that of the antiballistic package lies from unfinished aramid fabrics, completely unsatisfactory antiballistic properties. Because of the high The thickness of the molded body can be combined with aramid fabrics out of the question for antiballistic protective clothing come.

Embodiment 1

This example shows the finishing of a nonwoven described with a product conferring dilatancy.

A fleece made of polyester staple fibers with a titer of 3.3 dtex and a cutting length of 60 mm, which had been consolidated with a fleece binder, was used for the finishing. The basis weight of the fleece was 102 g / m ² . This fleece was equipped on a laboratory foulard. The batch in the chassis of the foulard contained 50% of a commercial dispersion of a copolymer based on styrene and ethyl acrylate with the addition of diallyl phthalate. The solids content of the dispersion was approximately 68%, so that a solids content of approximately 34% resulted in the bath batch.

The degree of squeezing was set to 120%, that is to say that the total weight of the fleece after the squeezing was composed of 1 part of the fleece weight and 1.2 parts of water plus solid from the dispersion. It was then dried on a laboratory dryer at 80 ° C. After drying, the weight per unit area was 143 g / m ² .

Embodiment 2

The nonwoven fabric finished according to embodiment 1 was incorporated into a bulletproof vest consisting of 28 layers of an aramid fabric with a basis weight of 198 g / m ² , the nonwoven fabric forming the 29th and 30th layers facing the body. In addition, a further layer of a non-finished aramid fabric with a basis weight of 198 g / m ^{2 was arranged} as the 31st layer behind the two nonwoven layers as a so-called support layer. This resulted in the following package structure from the outside in: 28 layers of aramid fabric, 2 layers of nonwoven fabric equipped with a dilatancy-imparting product and 1 layer of an aramid fabric as a support layer.

When trying to fire with 9 mm para-ammunition, which also at the bombardment attempts listed below came, with a bombardment speed of 420 m / sec the penetration depth of the projectile in plastillin, the one behind attached to the antiballistic package, 10 mm. At Another attempt to fire this bulletproof vest was made the bombardment speed increased to 510 m / sec. Here the penetration depth in plastillin was 14 mm.

A comparison test with a antiballistic package, only of 28 layers of the above Aramid fabric, resulted under the same bombardment conditions at 420 m / sec bombardment speed one 38 mm depth of penetration in plasticine. At 510 m / sec A bullet occurred at the speed of fire.

By determining the depth of penetration into a plastillin layer the trauma effect is checked. The plastillin layer is behind the antiballistic package arranged. The depth of penetration in Plastillin is often referred to as trauma depth. The depths of trauma approved by the authorities are in the different countries, between 20 and 44 mm Penetration depth in plasticine at a bombardment speed of for example 420 m / sec.

The experiment described here shows not only one significant reduction in the effects of trauma by using the material according to the invention, but it also shows that only with the use of the material according to the invention in the Traumal position of an antiballistic package that partially very strict requirements with regard to the trauma depth can be fulfilled.

Embodiment 3

This example shows the positive impact of the support layer in an antiballistic package. For this purpose, a package of 28 layers of an aramid fabric with a basis weight of 202 g / m ^{2 was} subjected to a bombardment test at a bombardment speed of 420 m / sec. The penetration depth in plastillin was 37 mm.

For the second bombardment attempt, 6 layers of a light, non-woven polyester fabric equipped with a dilatancy were placed behind the package consisting of 28 layers of aramid fabric. The fleece had a weight per unit area of 118 g / m ² after finishing (weight per unit area not equipped 81 g / m ² ). From the outside in, the package showed the following structure: 28 layers of aramid fabric and 6 layers of polyester fleece. With this package, the penetration depth during the bombardment test with a bombardment speed of 420 m / sec was 13 mm.

For the third attempt at bombardment, the Nonwoven layers are another layer of unfinished aramid fabric arranged as a so-called support layer, so that the package of The outside structure now showed the following structure: 28 layers Aramid fabric, 6 layers with a dilatancy Finished polyester fleece, 1 layer of aramid fabric as a support layer. In a bombardment attempt with 420 m / sec bombardment speed the penetration depth was only 6 mm.

Claims (11)

1. Material for protective clothing, in particular for antiballistic protective clothing, in the form of single- or multiple-layer packages or laminates, whereby at least one of the layers consists of a flat structure containing a dilatancy agent, characterized in that this dilatancy agent is an organic compound.
2. Material in accordance with Claim 1, characterized in that at least one layer is a nonwoven fabric.
3. Material in accordance with Claim 1, characterized in that at least one layer is a foamed material.
4. Material in accordance with Claim 1, characterized in that at least one layer is a woven fabric.
5. Bullet- or splinterproof protective clothing manufactured from a multi-layer material in accordance with at least one of Claims 1-4.
6. Bullet- or splinterproof protective clothing in accordance with Claim 5 in which the layers adjacent to the body of the wearer are constructed as a trauma package and at least one layer of the trauma package contains a dilatancy agent.
7. Bullet- or splinterproof protective clothing in accordance with Claim 6 in which the layer immediately adjacent to the body of the wearer is a support layer not finished with a dilatancy agent and that at least one of the subsequent outer layers contains a dilatancy agent.
8. Bullet- or splinterproof protective clothing in accordance with Claim 6 in which the layer immediately adjacent to the body of the wearer is a support layer containing a dilatancy agent and that at least one of the subsequent outer layers also contains a dilatancy agent.
9. Helmet manufactured from a multi-layer material in accordance with at least one of Claims 1-4.
10. Helmet in accordance with Claim 9 with at least one dilatancy layer near the body.
11. Protective clothing for protection from injury due to impact, manufactured from a single- or multi-layer material in accordance with at least one of Claims 1 - 4.