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Bezerra WBA, Lazarus BS, Costa UO, Figueiredo ABHS, Lima ÉP, Luz FSD, Monteiro SN. Energy Absorption and Ballistic Performance of Epoxy Composite Reinforced with Arapaima Scales. Polymers (Basel) 2023; 15:polym15071614. [PMID: 37050228 PMCID: PMC10096586 DOI: 10.3390/polym15071614] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2023] [Revised: 03/21/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Arapaima scales possess a hierarchical structure capable of absorbing a considerable amount of energy before fracture. These natural dermal armors present significant potential in the sustainable development of cost-effective composites. This work aimed, for the first time, to analyze the impact resistance and ballistic performance of arapaima scale-reinforced epoxy composites and their potential application in multilayered armor systems (MAS). Composite plates were prepared with 20%, 30%, and 40 vol% of arapaima scales. Composite specimens were subjected to notched Izod impact and residual velocity stand-alone tests and their MAS through backface signature (BFS) tests, with their fracture surfaces studied using SEM. The Izod tests confirmed the effect of scales' volume fraction on the energy absorbed by the composites, showing an increase with volume fraction. Residual velocity tests showed that composites with 30 vol% of scales resulted in the most significant improvement in absorbed energy. All MAS formulations presented BFS depths lower than the trauma limit specified by the NIJ standard. Fractographic analysis showed that the scales' toughening mechanisms improved the composites' energy absorption capacity. The experimental results substantiate the potential use of arapaima scales as a reinforcement agent in polymeric composites, with 30 vol% being the optimal volume fraction for energy-absorbing applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wendell B A Bezerra
- Department of Materials Science, Military Institute of Engineering-IME, Praça General Tibúrcio, 80, Praia Vermelha, Urca, Rio de Janeiro 22290-270, RJ, Brazil
| | - Benjamin S Lazarus
- Materials Science and Engineering Program, University of California, San Diego-UCSD, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, San Diego, CA 92093, USA
| | - Ulisses O Costa
- Department of Materials Science, Military Institute of Engineering-IME, Praça General Tibúrcio, 80, Praia Vermelha, Urca, Rio de Janeiro 22290-270, RJ, Brazil
| | - André B-H S Figueiredo
- Department of Materials Science, Military Institute of Engineering-IME, Praça General Tibúrcio, 80, Praia Vermelha, Urca, Rio de Janeiro 22290-270, RJ, Brazil
| | - Édio P Lima
- Department of Materials Science, Military Institute of Engineering-IME, Praça General Tibúrcio, 80, Praia Vermelha, Urca, Rio de Janeiro 22290-270, RJ, Brazil
| | - Fernanda S da Luz
- Department of Materials Science, Military Institute of Engineering-IME, Praça General Tibúrcio, 80, Praia Vermelha, Urca, Rio de Janeiro 22290-270, RJ, Brazil
| | - Sergio N Monteiro
- Department of Materials Science, Military Institute of Engineering-IME, Praça General Tibúrcio, 80, Praia Vermelha, Urca, Rio de Janeiro 22290-270, RJ, Brazil
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Torres FG, Saavedra AC. A comparison between the failure modes observed in biological and synthetic polymer nanocomposites. POLYM-PLAST TECH MAT 2020. [DOI: 10.1080/25740881.2019.1625397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- F. G. Torres
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (Lima 32 Perú), Lima, Perú
| | - A. C. Saavedra
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (Lima 32 Perú), Lima, Perú
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du Plessis A, Broeckhoven C, Yadroitsev I, Yadroitsava I, le Roux SG. Analyzing nature's protective design: The glyptodont body armor. J Mech Behav Biomed Mater 2018; 82:218-223. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmbbm.2018.03.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2018] [Revised: 03/26/2018] [Accepted: 03/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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