Titanium-Composite Body Armor Plates

Advanced Protection Products, Inc. (APPI) will use advanced materials and processes to develop and certify Very Light Body Armor (VLBA) plates that are capable of defeating a variety of ballistic threats. The VLBA plates will be designed using a titanium allow based metallic-composite armor system to provide cost-effective, lightweight protection. Composite facing and backing materials will be utilized to minimize the effects of front-face spall and rear-face deformation. Commercially available titanium alloys (Ti-6A1-4V, Ti-6A1-6V-2Sn) will be evaluated for the VLBA plate application. Titanium cost will be minimized by ordering to industry standard or commercial specifications for alloy chemistry; performance will be mazimized by specifying a heat-treatment schedule developed specifically for armor. Ballistic testing will be conducted to determine required thickness for the titanium and composite armor materials. NIJ-style ballistic testing (using a clay backing) will be conducted on the final design in preparation for SBIR Phase II NIJ Certification efforts.