Frag shield

A fragment resistant article incorporating a fragment resistant material, which fragment resistant material comprises:

• a) at least one consolidated network of fibers, said consolidated network of fibers comprising a plurality of cross-plied, non-woven fiber layers, each fiber layer comprising a plurality of fibers arranged in a substantially parallel array;
• said fibers having a tenacity of about 7 g/denier or more and a tensile modulus of about 150 g/denier or more;
• said fibers having an elastomeric matrix composition thereon, said elastomeric matrix composition substantially coating each of the individual fibers and comprising from about 7% to about 15% by weight of said consolidated network of fibers;
• the plurality of cross-plied, non-woven fiber layers being consolidated with said matrix composition to form said consolidated network of fibers;
• said consolidated network of fibers having anterior and posterior surfaces;
• wherein if said fibers comprise aramid fibers or poly (p-phenylenebenzobisoxazole) fibers, said matrix composition comprises at least about 11% by weight of said consolidated network of fibers;
• and
• b) at least one layer of a polymer film attached to each of said anterior and posterior surfaces of said consolidated network of fibers, wherein said polymer film layers comprise from about 2% to about 25% percent by weight of the overall material.

A method of producing a fragment resistant material comprising:

• a) forming at least two fiber layers, each fiber layer being formed by arranging a plurality of fibers into a substantially parallel, unidirectional array;
• said fibers having a tenacity of about 7 g/denier or more and a tensile modulus of about 150 g/denier or more;
• said fibers having an elastomeric matrix composition applied thereon;
• b) arranging said fiber layers wherein the unidirectional array of fibers of each layer are cross-plied at a non-parallel angle relative to the longitudinal fiber direction of each adjacent layer;
• c) bonding said cross-plied layers under conditions sufficient to form a consolidated network of fibers, the consolidated network of fibers having anterior and posterior surfaces;
• wherein said matrix composition substantially coats each of the individual fibers and comprises from about 7% to about 15% by weight of said consolidated network of fibers, and wherein if said fibers comprise aramid fibers or poly (p-phenylenebenzobisoxazole) fibers, said matrix composition comprises at least about 11% by weight of said consolidated network of fibers;
• and
• d) attaching at least one layer of a polymer film to each of said anterior and posterior surfaces of said consolidated network of fibers, wherein said polymer film layers comprise from about 2% to about 25% percent by weight of the overall material.

A fragment resistant material comprising:

• a) at least one consolidated network of fibers, said consolidated network of fibers comprising a plurality of cross-plied fiber layers, each fiber layer comprising a plurality of fibers arranged in an array;
• said fibers having a tenacity of about 7 g/denier or more and a tensile modulus of about 150 g/denier or more;
• said fibers having an elastomeric matrix composition thereon, said elastomeric matrix composition substantially coating each of the individual fibers and comprising from about 7% to about 15% by weight of said consolidated network of fibers;
• the plurality of cross-plied fiber layers being consolidated with said matrix composition to form said consolidated network of fibers;
• said consolidated network of fibers having anterior and posterior surfaces;
• and
• b) at least one layer of a polymer film attached to each of said anterior and posterior surfaces of said consolidated network of fibers, wherein said polymer film layers comprise from about 2% to about 25% percent by weight of the overall material.