Research on the anti-bullet properties of aerogel composite materials

Anti-bullet properties of silica aerogel, organic aerogel and carbon aerogel composite materials were investigated by target experiment using spherical projectile. Results show that when aerogels are used as faceplate, aerogels could improve the anti-bullet property of composite target obviously. Aerogels display a remarkable strain rate strengthening effect when they are impacted by projectile, which could improve the energy absorption capability of aerogels. When aerogels are sandwiched by aluminum alloy, aluminum alloy faceplate fails by bend due to the insufficient support of the aerogels interlayer, thus the anti-bullet property of composite target improves slightly. Organic aerogel has relatively high dynamic compressive strength and high dynamic failure strain, thus the anti-bullet property of organic aerogel is better than other aerogels. Silica aerogel has lower dynamic compressive strength than carbon aerogel. However, the dynamic failure strain of silica aerogel is higher than that of carbon aerogel. Thus the anti-bullet property of silica aerogel is similar to that of carbon aerogel.