Lighweight Foamed Composites with Superior Flame and Impact Resistant Properties

Fiber reinforced composites have many applications in the military and civil sectors that require lightweight structure, fuel efficiency, and environmental durability. In addition to the need for flame and moisture resistance, many military applications require that the materials have impact and ballistic resistant properties. Metals and ceramics are recognized to have good ballistic properties, but their densities are too high for applications that require mobility. Conventional polymeric foam cores are designed to enhance the bending stiffness of structures. Although current foamed structures normally have adequate impact properties for some applications, they do not have the required severe impact (ballistic) and flame resistant properties. In our Phase I research, we proved that our proposed foamed sandwich composites posses all of the desirable properties mentioned above. The processing technique of this foamed sandwich composite does not involve any toxic chemicals. They are extremely lightweight, and considering the threat level it can defeat, are excellent for applications that require mobility. Additional features include high mechanical properties at elevated temperatures, ductility, and the ability to resist fragmentation from neighboring broken components. At the end of the Phase II project, the proposed materials will be ready to start saving the lives of military and law enforcement personnel.