Bulletproof glass

Bulletproof glass of a jeweler's window after a burglary attempt
Ballistic test of a bullet-resistant glass panel

Bulletproof glass (also known as ballistic glass, transparent armor, or bullet-resistant glass) is a type of strong but optically transparent material that is particularly resistant to being penetrated when struck. Like any material, however, they are not completely impenetrable. It is usually made from a combination of two or more types of glass, one hard and one soft. The softer layer makes the glass more elastic, so it can flex instead of shatter. The index of refraction for both of the glasses used in the bulletproof layers must be almost the same to keep the glass transparent and allow a clear, undistorted view through the glass. Bulletproof glass varies in thickness from 3/4 in. to 3.5 in. (19 mm to 90 mm).[1][2]

Bulletproof glass is used in windows of some types of buildings (e.g., jewelry stores, embassies) and vehicles (VIP limousines, military vehicles and military planes).

Construction

A rough visualisation of bulletproof glass, composed of layers of plastic sheeting (black) and layers of glass (blue)

Bullet-resistant glass is constructed using polycarbonate (a thermoplastic), and layers of laminated glass. The aim is to make a material with the appearance and clarity of standard glass but with effective protection from small arms. Polycarbonate designs usually consist of products such as Armormax, Makroclear, Cyrolon, Lexan or Tuffak, which are often sandwiched between layers of regular glass.[3] The ability of a glass itself to withstand shock is improved by the process of tempering. When treated with heating and cooling or with chemical processes, the glass becomes much stronger. The polycarbonate usually has one of two types of coating to resist abrasion: a soft coating that heals after being scratched (such as elastomeric carbon-based polymers) or a hard coating that prevents scratching (such as silicon-based polymers).[4] The plastic in laminate designs also provides resistance to impact from physical assault from blunt and sharp objects. The plastic provides little in the way of bullet-resistance. The glass, which is much harder than plastic, flattens the bullet, and the plastic deforms, with the aim of absorbing the rest of the energy and preventing penetration. The ability of the polycarbonate layer to stop projectiles with varying energy is directly proportional to its thickness,[5] and bulletproof glass of this design may be up to 3.5 inches thick.[2]

Laminated glass layers are built from glass sheets bonded together with polyvinyl butyral, polyurethane or ethylene-vinyl acetate. This design has been in regular use on combat vehicles since World War II. It is typically thick and is usually extremely heavy.[6]

Sample thickness and areal densities for bullet-resistant glass materials[7][8][9]
Threat Stopped Glass LaminatePolycarbonateAcrylicGlass-Clad PolycarbonateAluminum oxynitride
Protection Level (example) Thickness Density Thickness Density Thickness Density Thickness Density Thickness Density
in. cm lb/sq. ft. kg/m2 in. cm lb/sq. ft. kg/m2 in. cm lb/sq. ft. kg/m2 in. cm lb/sq. ft. kg/m2 in. cm lb/sq. ft. kg/m2
UL 752 Level 1 9 mm 3 shots 1.185 3.009 15.25 74.46 0.75 1.905 4.6 22.46 1.25 3.175 7.7 37.6 0.818 2.078 8.99 43.9
UL 752 Level 2 .357 Magnum 3 shots 1.4 3.556 17.94 87.6 1.03 2.616 6.4 31.25 1.375 3.492 8.5 41.50 1.075 2.73 11.68 57.02
UL 752 Level 3 .44 Magnum 3 shots 1.59 4.038 20.94 102.24 1.25 3.175 7.7 37.6 1.288 3.271 14.23 69.47
UL 752 Level 4 .30 caliber 1 shot 1.338 3.525 14.43 69.47
UL 752 Level 6, (approximately NIJ IIIA) 9 mm 5 shots
UL 752 Level 8, (approximately NIJ III) 7.62 mm 5 shots 2.374 6.03 26.01 126.99
UL 752 Level 10 .50 BMG 1 shot 1.6 4.06 30.76 150.1

Test standards

Bullet-resistant materials are tested by using a gun to fire a projectile from a set distance into the material in a set pattern. Levels of protection are based on the ability of the target to stop a specific type of projectile traveling at a specific speed. Experiments suggest that polycarbonate fails at lower velocities with regular shaped projectiles compared to irregular ones (like fragments), so that testing with regular shaped projectiles probably gives a conservative estimate of its resistance.[10] When projectiles do not penetrate, the depth of the dent left by the impact can be measured and related to the projectile’s velocity and thickness of the material.[5] Some researchers have developed mathematical models based on results of this kind of testing to help them design bulletproof glass to resist specific anticipated threats.[11]

Well known standards for categorizing ballistic resistance include the following:

Environmental effects

The properties of bullet-resistant glass can be affected by temperature and by exposure to solvents or UV radiation, usually from sunlight. If the polycarbonate layer is below a glass layer, it has some protection from UV radiation due to the glass and bonding layer. Also, over time the polycarbonate becomes more brittle because it is an amorphous polymer (which is necessary for it to be transparent) that moves toward thermodynamic equilibrium.[4]

Impact of polycarbonate by a projectile at temperatures below −7 °C sometimes creates spall, pieces of polycarbonate that are broken off and become projectiles themselves. Experiments have demonstrated that the size of the spall is related to the thickness of the laminate rather than the size of the projectile. The spall starts in surface flaws caused by bending of the inner, polycarbonate layer and the cracks move “backwards” through to the impact surface. It has been suggested that a second inner layer of polycarbonate may effectively resist penetration by the spall.[4]

Recent advances

U.S. military researchers are developing a new class of transparent armor incorporating aluminum oxynitride (Trade name: ALON) as the outside "strike plate" layer. It is much lighter and performs much better than traditional glass/polymer laminates. Aluminum oxynitride "glass" can defeat threats like the .50 caliber armor-piercing rounds using material that is not prohibitively heavy.[3] Various types of other materials which closely resemble glass are also being developed.

Spinel ceramics

Certain types of ceramics (a class of mineral) can also be used for transparent armor due to their properties of increased density and hardness when compared to traditional glass. These new types of synthetic ceramic transparent armors can allow for thinner armor with equivalent stopping power to traditional laminated glass.[12]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Bertino, AJ, Bertino PN, Forensic Science: Fundamentals and Investigations, Cengage Learning, 2008, p. 407
  2. 1 2 "Bullet Resistant Glass & Laminates: Military Vehicles Humvees Protection". Usarmorllc.com. 2013-12-31. Retrieved 2014-08-04.
  3. 1 2 Lundin, Laura (October 17, 2005). "Air Force testing new transparent armor". Air Force Research Laboratory Public Affairs. Retrieved November 9, 2006.
  4. 1 2 3 Walley, S.M.; Field J.E.; Blair, P.W.; Milford, A.J. (March 11, 2003). "The effect of temperature on the impact behaviour of glass/polycarbonate laminates." (pdf-1.17 Mb). International Journal of Impact Engineering. Elsevier Science Ltd. pp. 31–52. doi:10.1016/S0734-743X(03)00046-0. Retrieved September 15, 2013.
  5. 1 2 Gunnarsson CA; et al. (June 2009). "Deformation and Failure of Polycarbonate during Impact as a Function of Thickness" (pdf-443Kb). Proceedings of the Society for Experimental Mechanics (SEM) Annual Conference, June 1–4, 2009, Albuquerque New Mexico, USA. Society for Experimental Mechanics Inc. Retrieved September 15, 201. Check date values in: |access-date= (help)
  6. ↑ Shah, Q. H.
  7. ↑ Company specifications from Total Security Solutions and/or Pacific Bulletproof. Retrieved May 9,2011
  8. ↑ Nationwide Structures Inc. "Ballistic Charts". Nationwidestructures.com. Retrieved 2014-08-04.
  9. ↑ "Surmet's ALON® Transparent Armor 50 Caliber Test". YouTube. 2011-03-14. Retrieved 2014-08-04.
  10. ↑ Chandall D, Chrysler J. A numerical analysis of the ballistic performance of a 6.35 mm transparent polycarbonate plate. Defence Research Establishment, Valcartier, Quebec, Canada. DREV-TM-9834, 1998.
  11. ↑ Cros PE, Rota L, Cottenot CE, Schirrer R, Fond C. Experimental and numerical analysis of the impact behaviour of polycarbonate and polyurethane liner.J Phys IV, France 10:Pr9-671 – Pr9-676, 2000.
  12. ↑ Archived August 30, 2011, at the Wayback Machine.

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