Armor materials, body armor articles and methods of manufacture

Abstract

An armor material, body armor articles, and methods of manufacturing the armor material are provided. In an embodiment, by way of example only, the armor material includes a first plate, a second plate, and a powder material. The first plate includes a layer comprising a metallic material. The second plate is spaced apart from the first plate and includes a layer comprising a ceramic material. The powder material is disposed between the first and the second plates, and comprises loose powder including at least one of a plurality of ceramic particles and a plurality of metallic particles.

1 . An armor material, comprising:
 a first plate including a layer comprising a metallic material;   a second plate spaced apart from the first plate, the second plate including a layer comprising a ceramic material; and   a powder material disposed between the first and the second plates, the powder material comprising loose powder including at least one of a plurality of ceramic particles and a plurality of metallic particles.   
     
     
         2 . The armor material of  claim 1 , wherein the first plate further includes a ceramic layer. 
     
     
         3 . The armor material of  claim 1 , wherein the second plate further includes a metal layer. 
     
     
         4 . The armor material of  claim 1 , wherein the powder material is precompacted to a density of between about 30% and about 70% of a density of a solid form of the powder material. 
     
     
         5 . The armor material of  claim 1 , wherein the powder material further contains one or more organic additives. 
     
     
         6 . The armor material of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of cells disposed between the first plate and the second plate, wherein the powder material is disposed within at least a portion of the plurality of cells. 
     
     
         7 . The armor material of  claim 6 , wherein the powder material is disposed in between about 5% and about 95% of the plurality of cells. 
     
     
         8 . The armor material of  claim 6 , wherein each cell of the plurality of cells has a height extending between the first plate and the second plate, and each cell having the powder material disposed therein has a volume that is substantially occupied by the powder material. 
     
     
         9 . The armor material of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of cells are disposed in a plurality of layers, the plurality of layers including a first layer of cells and a second layer of cells disposed over the first layer of cells, the first and second layers of cells disposed between the first and second plates. 
     
     
         10 . The armor material of  claim 9 , wherein each cell of the plurality of cells of the first layer of cells has an opening that communicates with an opening of a corresponding cell of a plurality of cells of the second layer of cells, and at least a portion of the plurality of cells of the first layer of cells includes loose powder. 
     
     
         11 . The armor material of  claim 10 , wherein the plurality of cells of the second layer of cells communicating with the first layer of cells do not include the powder material. 
     
     
         12 . The armor material of  claim 6 , wherein the plurality of cells comprises a plurality of capsules containing the powder material. 
     
     
         13 . The armor material of  claim 1 , wherein the powder material comprises a first type of powder and a second type of powder, the first type of powder is disposed in a first portion of the plurality of cells, and the second type of powder is disposed in a second portion of the plurality of cells. 
     
     
         14 . The armor material of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a fiber composite fabric disposed adjacent at least a portion of the second plate.   
     
     
         15 . The armor material of  claim 14 , wherein the fiber composite fabric comprises a material selected from the group consisting of aramid, polyethylene fiber, and glass fiber. 
     
     
         16 . A body armor article comprising:
 a panel comprising an armor material including:
 a first plate including a layer comprising a metallic material; 
 a second plate spaced apart from the first plate, the second plate including a layer comprising a ceramic material; and 
 a powder material disposed between the first and the second plates, the powder material comprising loose powder including at least one of a plurality of ceramic particles and a plurality of metallic particles. 
   
     
     
         17 . The body armor article of  claim 16 , further comprising a plurality of panels attached together to form a vest. 
     
     
         18 . The body armor article of  claim 16 , further comprising a plurality of cells disposed between the first plate and the second plate, wherein the powder material is disposed within at least a portion of the plurality of cells. 
     
     
         19 . The body armor article of  claim 16 , further comprising a fiber composite fabric disposed adjacent at least a portion of the second plate. 
     
     
         20 . The body armor article of  claim 16 , wherein the powder material comprises a first type of powder and a second type of powder, the first type of powder is disposed in a first portion of the plurality of cells, and the second type of powder is disposed in a second portion of the plurality of cells.