Buriti Fabric Reinforced Epoxy Composites as a Novel Ballistic Component of a Multilayered Armor System

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

 In this work, the authors report the complete statistical investigation on the ballistic performance of 10, 20, and 30 vol% buriti fabric epoxy composites as MAS second layer against 7.62 mm rifle ammunition. The writing of this manuscript is organized and the amount of data is sufficient. Therefore, I think this manuscript could be published after a minor revision. Questions are as following,

1. As author mentioned “One might then infer that this volume fraction of buriti fabric is a minimum limit to prevent large scale separation to occur between the fabric and the epoxy matrix.”

-Why? The author should explain in detail.

2. What is innovative about this work compared to other Multilayered Armor System?

3. As author mentioned “Failure mechanism of the 10 vol% buriti fabric composite was revealed by scanning electron microscopy.”

4. Why does author say both EC20BF and EC30BF composites, and the plain epoxy, are equally effective as MAS second layer against the threat of high velocity 7.62 mm projectile.

5. What is the role of 10、20 and 30 vol% buriti fabric? If paragraph formats are not uniform and word forms are mixed in the article, find out the relevant parts and modify them. add some references such as “Journal of Cleaner Production, 359 (2022) 132134., DOI: 10.1007/s42114-022-00458-7., Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 2022, 620:263-272., DOI: 10.1007/s12274-022-4287-5., doi:10.1002/adfm.202204499., Journal of Materials Science & Technology, 2022, 127:153-163.,”.

Author Response

Reviewer #1

General Comment: In this work, the authors report the complete statistical investigation on the ballistic performance of 10, 20, and 30 vol% buriti fabric epoxy composites as MAS second layer against 7.62 mm rifle ammunition. The writing of this manuscript is organized and the amount of data is sufficient. Therefore, I think this manuscript could be published after a minor revision. Questions are as following.

Response: The authors thank the reviewer for the brief summary and words of incentive. The recommended revision were implemented and all questions answered.

 

Comment (1): As author mentioned “One might then infer that this volume fraction of buriti fabric is a minimum limit to prevent large scale separation to occur between the fabric and the epoxy matrix. Why? The author should explain in detail.

Response: The reason why the 30 vol % of buriti fabric is the minimum limit to guarantee ballistic application of epoxy composite in now explained in the revised version.

 

Commented (2): What is innovative about this work compared to other Multilayered Armor System?

Response: This is an important question raised by the reviewer, since many natural fibers have been investigated as reinforcement of polymer composites for MAS second layer. The fact that buriti fabric unique from Brazil, is for the first time successfully investigated in composites with a relatively larger amount of 30 vol% might be considered an innovation for effective use by the national armed forces. Moreover, particularly improved results were in comparison with the ballistic performance not only with other NFL’s but also synthetic fabrics like Kevlar.  

Commented (3): As author mentioned “Failure mechanism of the 10 vol% buriti fabric composite was revealed by scanning electron microscopy.”

Response: The 10 vol % buriti fabric composite was analyzed by SEM as an example for failure by delamination, which did not happened in the 30 vol % composite, considered the most appropriated for ballistic application as MAS second layer.

Commented (4): Why does author say both EC20BF and EC30BF composites, and the plain epoxy, are equally effective as MAS second layer against the threat of high velocity 7.62 mm projectile.

Response: This is an important question raised by the reviewer. As shown in Table 3, the main ballistic parameters Eabs and VL are similar for EC20BF, EC30BF and plain epoxy within the corresponding standard derivation. However, only the 30 vol % buriti fabric composite (EC30BF) was not fragmented after the 7.62 mm projectile impact which guarantees protection against subsequent shooting as required by the NIJ standard.

Commented (5): What is the role of 10、20 and 30 vol% buriti fabric? If paragraph formats are not uniform and word forms are mixed in the article, find out the relevant parts and modify them. add some references such as “Journal of Cleaner Production, 359 (2022) 132134., DOI: 10.1007/s42114-022-00458-7., Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 2022, 620:263-272., DOI: 10.1007/s12274-022-4287-5., doi:10.1002/adfm.202204499., Journal of Materials Science & Technology, 2022, 127:153-163.,”.

Response: Another important question, which is now fully discussed in the revised version. As recommended, paragraph formats As well as word for me have been modified to improve reading. The indicated references are now added to enrich discussion.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

The article can be published with minimal corrections concerning the analysis of literary data and the analysis of comparative characteristics of ballistic composites based on various textile materials.
Protective fabrics for body armor based on threads of high-strength aromatic polyamides (SVM, Armos, Kevlar, Twaron) are known. Practically, all known textile structures of fabrics of linen, twill, etc. methods of weaving, made of high-strength aramid threads, can be used as means of individual armor protection with greater or lesser efficiency. It is quite obvious that the maximum manifestation of the protective properties of the fabric can be achieved with an optimal fabric structure.
It would be advisable to strengthen the review part of the article and provide more comparative characteristics on the ballistic stability of the materials obtained and known in the literature (not only Kevlar).

Author Response

 

Reviewer #2

Commented (1): The article can be published with minimal corrections concerning the analysis of literary data and the analysis of comparative characteristics of ballistic composites based on various textile materials. Protective fabrics for body armor based on threads of high-strength aromatic polyamides (SVM, Armos, Kevlar, Twaron) are known. Practically, all known textile structures of fabrics of linen, twill, etc. methods of weaving, made of high-strength aramid threads, can be used as means of individual armor protection with greater or lesser efficiency. It is quite obvious that the maximum manifestation of the protective properties of the fabric can be achieved with an optimal fabric structure. It would be advisable to strengthen the review part of the article and provide more comparative characteristics on the ballistic stability of the materials obtained and known in the literature (not only Kevlar).

Response: The authors are grateful to the reviewer’s words of incentive and additional information in protective fabrics for body armor. As recommended the review part of our article is now strengthen with comparation data on the ballistic stability of the materials.

 

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf