Mar 11 2011 8:05 AM

International Ceramic Composites GmbH

Aramid-Fibre-Protection

Two-step Ballistic Protection

The helicopters must not only be protected against bullets fired by hand-held arms but also against armour-penetrating hard-core projectiles fired from long-barrel weapons. In order to meet these requirements, International Ceramic Composites developed a two-step ballistic protection made of advanced ceramic plates consisting of silicon carbide composites (C/SiC: carbon fibre reinforced silicon carbide) provided with an aramid fibre fabric laminate.

Upon the impact with the extremely hard ceramic material the projectile and its armour-penetrating core are shattered. The ceramic material is also crushed at the point of impact, but the ceramic and projectile fragments that fly away are absorbed by the ballistic aramid laminate. The single aramid fabric layers are rubberised on either side and are cured into a multiplayer laminate under high pressure. In this process the material gets the required flexibility to stop the fragments. The laminate is also optimally suited as carrier material for the ceramic armouring.

 

Manufacturing

To design these advanced ceramic components, carbon fibre has to be moulded with phenolic resin and afterwards is winded, pressed and hardened. The design and the mechanical handling are followed by a carbonisation and infiltration of the parts with high-performance ceramics within corresponding vacuum high-temperature furnaces. Finally the components have to be abraded with diamond tools up to the final measurements.


 

Properties and Advantages

  • Low specific areal density at high ballistic protection levels
  • Considerable flexibility in structural design (near-net shape processing)
  • Low wall thickness (< 15 mm)
  • High strength and stiffness
  • No porosity, no creeping and no ageing under stress
  • Very high thermal, chemical, corrosion and abrasion resistance
  • Ultra-lightweight capability (small wall thickness and complex stiffeners)
  • The helicopter crew can operate without being hindered by the armouring
  • Nearly unlimited life time during operation in adverse environments and in a wide temperature range.
  • Quick and feasible fastening systems for fast installation and integration.