# US 5,705,764 A · Interlayer for ceramic armor

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- Number: US 5,705,764 A
- Document ID: US5705764A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/657,700
- Filed: 1996-05-30
- Granted: 1998-01-06
- Earliest claimed: 1996-05-30
- Assignees: United Defense, L.P.
- Inventors: David Arthur Schade; James Edward Drotleff; Ronald Eugene Musante; Michael Brian McArthur; Torrey Lane Pike; Vernon Curtis Krueger; George Edgar Thomas, Jr.; Mark Albert Middione
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5705764A

## CPC

- F41H 5/0428: {Ceramic layers in combination with additional layers made of fibres, fabrics or plastics}
- Y10S 428/911: Penetration resistant layer
- F41H: ARMOUR; ARMOURED TURRETS; ARMOURED OR ARMED VEHICLES; MEANS OF ATTACK OR DEFENCE, e.g. CAMOUFLAGE, IN GENERAL
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

## Abstract

The invention provides an improved method and apparatus for bonding ceramic tiles to armor. The invention uses a toughened epoxy adhesive and a rubber interlayer to improve the bonding of ceramic tile to armor. A scrim cloth is embedded in adhesive layers to serve as a wick and spacer to uniformly distribute the epoxy.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An armor system, comprising:
an structural support layer;
an elastomer layer with a first side and a second side with the first side of the elastomer layer adjacent to a first side of the structural support layer;
a first adhesive layer binding the first side of the structural support layer to the first side of the elastomer layer;
a plurality of tiles forming a layer of tiles with a first side and a second side, wherein the first side of the layer of tiles is adjacent to the second side of the elastomer layer; and
a second adhesive layer binding the second side of the elastomer layer with the first side of the layer of tiles;
a first scrim cloth embedded in the first adhesive layer; and
a second scrim cloth embedded in the second adhesive layer.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The armor system, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the scrim cloth is a net of fiberglass material.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The armor system, as claimed in claim 2, wherein the elastomer layer is EPDM rubber.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The armor system, as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer are epoxy layers.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The armor system, as claimed in claim 4, wherein the plurality of tiles forming a layer of tiles have a gap between the plurality of tiles that is in the range between 0.010 inches and 0.10 inches.

### Claim 6

An armor system, comprising:
an structural support layer;
an elastomer layer with a first side and a second side with the first side of the elastomer layer adjacent to a first side of the structural support layer;
a first adhesive layer binding the first side of the structural support layer to the first side of the elastomer layer;
a plurality of tiles forming a layer of tiles with a first side and a second side, wherein the first side of the layer of tiles is adjacent to the second side of the elastomer layer; and
a second adhesive layer binding the second side of the elastomer layer with the first side of the layer of tiles, wherein the elastomer layer is EPDM rubber.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The armor system, as claimed in claim 6, wherein the first adhesive layer and the second adhesive layer are epoxy layers.

### Claim 8

A method of manufacturing an armor system, comprising the steps of:
applying an adhesive on a first side of a structural support layer;
placing a first layer of scrim cloth on the adhesive on the first side of the structural support layer;
applying a layer of adhesive on the first layer of scrim cloth;
placing a first side of an elastomer layer on the layer of adhesive on the first layer of scrim cloth;
applying a layer of adhesive on a second side of the elastomer layer;
placing a second layer of scrim cloth on the layer of adhesive on the second side of the elastomer layer;
applying a layer of adhesive on the second layer of scrim cloth; and
placing a layer of ceramic tiles on the layer of adhesive on the second layer of scrim cloth.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method, as claimed in claim 8, further comprising the steps of, mixing the adhesive, which comprises the steps of:
mixing epoxy; and
adding fumed silica to the epoxy.