Bicomponent and Biconstituent Fibers in Ballistic Fabric for Personnel Armor.

Experimental fibers have been spun from intimate mixtures of nylon, polypropylene and polyester plastics biconstituent type following an extensive screening program to determine compatibilities. Fibers of the bicomponent type shellcore and bilateral have also been spun from several combinations. A total of six combinations of both types plus a 100 nylon control have been spun in sufficient quantity to be woven into ballistic fabric and tested on a firing range. All seven fabrics showed an appreciably lower ballistic resistance V50 than a standard nylon ballistic fabric but processing difficulties during the spinning operation may have been responsible, at least in part, for the poor showing. When comparisons are made within the series there is evidence that a shellcore fiber made from nylon and polypropylene could be developed into an improved ballistic fabric.