Luis Henrique Leme Louro

Ballistic Test of Multilayered Armor with Intermediate Epoxy Composite Reinforced with Jute Fabric

Multilayered armors with a front ceramic followed by aramid fabric (Kevlar™) are currently used against high velocity ammunition. In these armors, a front ceramic layer that shatters and spalls the bullet is followed by an intermediate layer, usually plies of aramid fabric, which dissipates both the bullet and ceramic fragments energy. In the present work, the intermediate aramid fabric layer was replaced by an equal thickness layer of 30 vol% jute fabric reinforced epoxy composite. Ballistic impact test with 7.62 caliber ammunition revealed that both the plain epoxy and the jute fabric composite have a relatively similar performance of the Kevlar™ and also attended the NIJ standard for body protection. The energy dissipation mechanisms of jute fabric composite were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy and found to be the rupture of the brittle epoxy matrix as well as the interaction of the jute fibers with the post-impact fragments. This latter is the same mechanism recently disclosed for aramid fabric. However, the lightness and lower cost of the jute fabric composite are additional advantages that favor its substitution for the aramid fabric.

Hydroxyapatite Scaffolds Produced by Hydrothermal Deposition of Monetite on Polyurethane Sponges Substrates

Hydroxyapatite scaffolds have been being produced by a wide range of processes. The optimun material to be used as bone graft has to be partially resorbable, with resorption rates similar to new bone formation ones. The samples must have porosity compatible with tissue ingrowth. Hydroxyapatite and tricalcium phosphate ceramics are good choices for designing such materials. In the present study, polymeric sponges were coated with hydroxyapatite and sintered. The method consists of coating polyurethane sponges substrates in an aqueous solution rich in phosphate (PO4)3- and calcium (Ca)2+ ions. The solution is composed by 0.5M Ca(OH)2, 0.3M H3PO4 and 1M CH3CHCO2HOH (lactic acid) at pH of 3.7. The sponges were immersed in a beaker with the solution and heated up to 80°C to precipitate monetite on the sponge. Continuous and adherent coatings were formed on the surface of sponges interconections. These coatings were characterised by X-ray diffractometry and the only identified phase was monetite. The substrates were converted to hydroxyapatite in an alkali solution.The total conversion from monetite to hydroxyapatite was confirmed by XRD analyses. The struts were heat treated in order to eliminate the organic sponge and sinter the scaffolds. After sintering, hydroxyapatite and tricalcium phosphate were identified on the struts. Optical microscopy revealed the morphology of the struts, while scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed the precipitates morphology. The method showed to be efficient in the production of porous scaffolds.

Porous Biphasic and Triphasic Bioceramics Scaffolds Produced by Gelcasting

The present work suggests a modified gel casting process, including polyethylene wax spheres addition to the suspension with the objective of creating uniform and interconnected pores in the body of samples. In the present study, apatite powders were synthesized at pH 10 and pH 12 in order to give rise to biphasic and triphasic bioceramics after sintering.

Bioactive Ceramics Based on Nb2O5 and Ta2O5

Bioactive ceramics have the ability to chemically bond to bone. This class of biomaterials can be used as coatings on metallic implants, alloplastic bone defect fillers and as scaffold for tissue engineering. The most widely used bioactive ceramics are hydroxyapatite, Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2 and tricalcium phosphate, Ca3(PO4)2. This study presents new bioactive ceramics based on Nb2O5 and Ta2O5. These materials were produced from bioinert ceramics chemically activated by an alkali hydrothermal treatment. Scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersion X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analyses on samples incubated in simulated body fluid showed the presence of bone-like apatite, confirming that the modified ceramics surface became bioactive.

Evaluation of Ballistic Armor Behavior with Epoxy Composite Reinforced with Malva Fibers

In the present study, we used natural fibers malva (Urena lobata, Linn) in 0, 15 and 30 vol.% as reinforcement of epoxy matrix composites to ballistic application. Ballistic efficiency of these composites was assessed by measuring the energy absorbed and residual velocity after impact 9 mm FMJ ammunition projectile, aiming to compare with traditional materials, such as: aramid fabric Kevlar™ used in vests for personal protection. The results showed by visual analysis and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) that the main active failure mechanisms in composites were delamination layers and fiber rupture. In test groups can be seen that the absorbed energy and the residual velocity varies with the fiber percentage used. Compared to aramid there is both a gain in weight and cost of the ballistic armor, which makes the fiber malva a promising material applications involving personal protection against 9 mm caliber ammunition.

Síntese e caracterização do compósito Al2O3 -YAG e do Al2O3-YAG e Al2O3 aditivados com Nb2O5

The Al2O3-YAG composite exhibits high corrosion and creep resistance in aggressive environments, which provides quite glimpse attractive applications such as jet engine vanes and as gas turbines. This composite also shows high hardness and wear resistance allowing its use in ballistic armor. In this study, precursor powders of Al2O3, Y2O3 and Nb2O5 were homogeneously mixed in a planetary ball mill for 4 h, dried in an oven at 120 oC for 48 h, sieved and deagglomerated. The Al2O3-YAG composite was produced from mixtures of Al2O3-Y2O3 at 1300 oC for 2 h. Samples of Al2O3-YAG, Al2O3-YAG with Nb2O5 and Al2O3 with Nb2O5 were produced. Each powder composition was uniaxially pressed at 70 MPa. Sintering was performed at 1400 and 1450 oC. The powders as received and as processed were characterized for specific surface area and particle size. The sintered materials were characterized by apparent density and porosity by the Archimedes method and evaluated for shrinkage and loss of mass. The obtained results showed that further adjustments are needed in the sintering conditions of Al2O3-YAG composition with Nb2O5 in order to improve the densification and shrinkage, which were low, 60% and 3%, respectively. The Al2O3 with Nb2O5 addition, on the other hand, presented a satisfactory densification of 96% and shrinkage around 15%.

Parascholzite Coatings on Niobium Substrates

This study proposes a hydrothermal process to produce monetite and zinc-doped calcium phosphate coatings with different (Ca+Zn)/P molar ratios, in an attempt to incorporate zinc benefits on bone formation to hydroxyapatite precursors. The method consists of coating niobium and titanium substrates in an aqueous solution rich in (PO4)3- and calcium (Ca)2+ ions under specific conditions (pH ≡ 3.7, 80°C). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses were performed to characterize the coatings. From XRD analysis, we concluded that substitution of Ca by Zn was feasible up to 15% mol Zn, and the new phase obtained was parascholzite (JCPDS-01-086-2372).

Processamento e caracterização morfológica do compósito Al2O3-YAG aditivado com nióbia

The Al2O3-YAG composite has high mechanical strength at high temperatures which allows its use in air craft applications, since it increases the thermal efficiency of jet engines and helps the development of high performance gas turbines. This composite also exhibits some favorable properties toward military applications such as armor, due to its high hardness. In this study, Al2O3-YAG and Al2O3-YAG with 4wt.% Nb2O5 (niobia) samples were produced. The precursors powders were ground in a planetary ball mill for 4 h, dried in an oven at 120 oC during 48 h, deagglomerated and sieved. The powder mixtures were then uniaxially pressed at 70 MPa. Sintering was carried out at 1450 oC for 2, 3, and 4 h, with heating and cooling rates of 10 oC/min. The materials were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) in order to characterize the microstructure. X-ray diffraction with Rietveld refinement was performed to determine and quantify the structural phases, whereas density was measured by the Archimede´s method. The samples with niobia addition revealed approximately 5wt.% of yttrium niobate (YNbO4) phase. It is worth pointing out that there is no citation in the literature involving niobia addition to the Al2O3-YAG composite. On the other hand, the obtained results indicated that additional experiments regarding the sintering conditions are necessary to optimize density.

Modified Gelcasting Process to Prepare Porous Trifasic and Bifasic Hydroxyapatite scaffolds

In the present work, apatite powders were synthesized at pH 10, pH 11 and pH 12 in order to give rise to biphasic and triphasic bioceramics after sintering. A modified gelcasting process, including polyethylene wax spheres addition to the suspension, is proposed in comparison to the original gelcasting method. The aim of the addition is the creation of uniform, open and interconnected pores in the body of samples.

Limit Speed Analysis and Absorbed Energy in Multilayer Armor with Epoxy Composite Reinforced with Mallow Fibers and Mallow and Jute Hybrid Fabric

Epoxy matrix composites reinforced with up to 10, 20 and 30 vol% of continuous and aligned natural mallow fibers and 30 vol% of mallow and jute hybrid fabric were for the first time ballistic tested as personal armor against class III 7.62 mm FMJ ammunition. The ballistic efficiency of these composites was assessed by measuring the dissipated energy and residual velocity after the bullet perforation. The results were compared with that in similar tests of aramid fabric (Kevlar™) commonly used in vests for personal protections. Visual inspection and scanning electron microscopy analysis of impact-fractured samples revealed failure mechanisms associated with fiber pullout, rupture and layers delamination. When compared to Kevlar™, the mallow fiber and hybrid fabric composite displayed practically the same ballistic efficiency. However, there is a reduction in both weight and cost, which makes both, mallow fiber and hybrid fabric composites, a promising material for personal ballistic protection.