Penetration and perforation characteristics of the novel UHMWPE film laminates by the 7.62 mm standard bullet

Improvement of the protective performance and processing technique has always been the research focus of lightweight bulletproof composites. To explore the ballistic characteristics of newly developed ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) film laminates, field firing tests of the 10-, 20- and 30-mm-thick film laminates under shots of 7.62 × 39 mm steel core bullets were conducted. The deformation process, final failure state, and penetration cross-section of the film laminates were analyzed and discussed. The results showed that without considering the deformation degree, the ballistic performances of the film laminates were significantly superior to those of the traditional UHMWPE fibre laminates. Weak interlaminar mechanical property was the key to the ballistic characteristics of the film laminates. The multi-stage penetration mechanisms of the film laminates were evidently different from those of the fibre laminates, indicating the variation in ballistic analytical method. Finally, the respective recommended ballistic protection applications of the film laminates with different thicknesses were proposed.