Ramie fiber reinforced epoxy (RFRE) composite for bulletproof panels

Abstract

The purpose of this research is to make RFRE composite as a bulletproof panels level IIIA National Institute of Justice (NIJ) standard. Ramie fibers be wattlet into woven roving using loom machines. The woven molded into composite using hand lay up method. The mold 15 x 15 x 5 cm³ be given epoxy as a based. The woven fiber put into mold so that all of ramie fiber wetted by the matrix epoxy to be 15 x 15 x 2 cm³. The second layer until fourteenth layers such as first and second layer. Panel clossed the mold and pressed so that produce RFRE 60% volume fraction. The projectile caliber 9 mm, 124 gram FMJ RN used for ballistic test. The result of ballistic test shows that the projectile speed just before tauching the panel 1433 ft/s. The projectile could not penetrate panel and got stuck in the panel. The projectile deformed up to 68%, so the panel able to withstand the projectile penetration in level III-A NIJ standard.

Keywords: RFRE composite; ramie fibers; epoxy; level III-A.