Experimental and numerical evaluation of transparent bulletproof material for enhanced impact-energy absorption using strengthened-glass/polymer composite

The ballistic impact resistance of glass/polymer composites was evaluated in relation to application in high-performance and lightweight bulletproof materials by using a strengthened soda-lime silicate glass. An effective strengthened-glass fabrication method was developed, which involves combined reinforcement incorporating ion exchange using dispersed concentrated potassium nitrate powder, followed by quenching at 15 K/s. The static compression test of the strengthened glass was approximately 3.7 times greater than that of the parent glass. The elastic modulus of the strengthened glass through the dynamic compression tests increased from 58.7 to 72.9 GPa as compared to the parent glass at a strain rate of 1042/s. As a result, we confirmed that the strengthened glass exhibits anisotropic behavior and high impact resistance. In addition, the fracture behavior of tested specimens from the finite element simulation appeared in good agreement with the experimental results. By laminating the two strengthened-glass samples with two continuous polycarbonate sheets at the back, we achieved a ballistic limit velocity of 892.9 m/s and reduced the thickness of the bulletproof materials from 28.83 to 18.15 mm.