Effect of domestic laundering on the fragment protective performance of fabrics used in personal protection

Abstract

UK Armed Forces wear items of clothing that incorporate fragment protective fabrics (Tier 1 Pelvic Protection) and other items of clothing are under development (e.g. Improved Under Body Armor Combat Shirt). The long-term robustness of such garments is of interest. In this paper four candidate fabrics (knitted silk, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene felt, para-aramid felt and a woven para-aramid) were investigated. The effect of laundering on 0.24 g chisel-nosed fragment simulating projectile ballistic protective performance was measured on packs containing the candidate fabrics that were representative of clothing layers. Changes in the physical properties (mass, thickness, dimensional change) of candidate fabrics were measured. The ballistic protective performance of two candidate fabrics was unaffected by laundering; for the other two fabrics improved performance was measured. The masses of the specimen packs was unaffected by laundering; however, the thickness of all fabrics increased, relative to dimensional change.

Characterization and ballistic performance of thin pre-damaged resin-starved aramid-fiber composite panels

“…According to standard procedures, the Probit analysis model was used, using a 95% confidence interval (results of the regression analysis are shown in Figure 11). 25…”

“…The results of 20 shots were taken per group of specimens, which provided reliable statistical analysis. Results were statistically analyzed using the Probit method as outlined by Helliker 25 to compare the two groups. The results were plotted as a function of projectile penetration probability against projectile impact velocity, and the gradients and the V 50 velocities (the impact velocity at which there is a 50% likelihood of sample complete penetration) of the regression graphs were compared.…”

“…Consequently, the mechanical behavior of Kevlar fibers and fabrics, both as materials in their own right and in the form of polymer matrix composites, has been the subject of a number of investigations, including studies on ballistic performance. [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19] However, in addition to damage caused by ballistic impact, protective personal armor can also be exposed to other types of damage that can be introduced during everyday wear-and-tear (e.g., during storage of armor or repeated low-level damage such as knocks and abrasions during use), or through cleaning processes (e.g., laundering 20 ).…”

Gelatine Backing Affects the Performance of Single-Layer Ballistic-Resistant Materials Against Blast Fragments

“…Environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, impurity, and dampness, to name but a few that would vary depending on the location of the field, would all contribute to the performance of the protective fabrics. Immersion in water ( Bazhenov, 1997 ; Li et al, 2016 ) and domestic laundering ( Helliker et al, 2014 ) have been shown to reduce the performance of some ballistic protective fabrics. The effect of these factors on the protective ability of protective fabrics should be determined experimentally, and the proposed apparatus and methodology presented here offers a reproducible test bed to do so.…”

Effects of salt water on the ballistic protective performance of bullet-resistant body armour

“…Although the body armour is dried between patrols, the effect of regular soakings with salt water and drying has also not been previously studied. Laundering (washing and drying cycles) can affect the ballistic protective performance of fabrics (Helliker et al ., 2014).…”