HELMET DESIGN UTILIZING NANOCOMPOSITES
Disclosed herein is a composite structure for deflecting and spreading kinetic energy transmission after various types of impacts utilizing nanocomposites. The structure has a first composite layer including a discrete reinforcement and a continuous binder. The first composite layer is an outside layer that comes in contact with an object. The structure has at least one subsequent composite layer that is adjacent to the preceding layer and includes a discrete reinforcement and a continuous binder. The discrete reinforcement is made of particles and can have varying sizes and materials. In one embodiment, the particles in layer reinforcements have a progressively smaller size than preceding layers.
1 . A structure for deflecting and spreading kinetic energy, the structure comprising:
a first composite layer comprising a plurality of particles, each particle of the plurality of particles having a first size, wherein the first composite layer comprises a discrete reinforcement and a continuous binder; and
at least one subsequent composite layer that is adjacent to the first layer, the at least one subsequent composite layer comprising particles of a second size which differs from the first size.
2 . The structure of claim 1 , wherein the first composite layer is an outside layer that comes in contact with an object.
3 . The structure of claim 1 , wherein the particles in the first composite layer are ceramic.
4 . The structure of claim 1 , wherein the particles in the first composite layer are glass.
5 . The structure of claim 1 , wherein the discrete reinforcement is at least one type of particle.
6 . The structure of claim 1 , wherein the discrete reinforcement comprises particles having a size greater than 1 micron.
7 . The structure of claim 1 , wherein the continuous binder binds particles together to yield the first composite layer.
8 . The structure of claim 7 , wherein the continuous binder in the first composite layer is a polymer.
9 . The structure of claim 1 , wherein the at least one subsequent composite layer comprises a discrete reinforcement and a continuous binder.
10 . The structure of claim 9 , wherein the particles in at least one subsequent composite layer are ceramic.
11 . The structure of claim 9 , wherein the particles in at least one subsequent composite layer are glass.
12 . The structure of claim 9 , wherein the continuous binder in at least one subsequent composite layer is a polymer.
13 . The structure of claim 9 , wherein the discrete reinforcement in at least one subsequent composite layer is at least one type of particle.
14 . The structure of claim 9 , wherein the discrete reinforcement comprises particles having a size smaller than the first layer.
15 . The structure of claim 9 , wherein the discrete reinforcement has a progressively smaller size than preceding layers.
16 . The structure of claim 1 , wherein the structure is used in one of a helmet, body armor, a vehicle and a building.