Railgun test of nano-reinforced layered composite materials for ballistic impact and electromagentic shielding

A layered composite material have been manufactured and characterized in terms of electromagnetic shielding effectiveness and of energy absorbing capability upon impact of metallic bullets fired at about 400 m/s. This impact velocity is in the range of potential mechanical shock in aeronautical field. The composite material under test has a thickness of about 2mm. It has been manufactured by integrating several layers of Kevlar fabric and carbon fiber ply within a polymeric matrix reinforced by carbon nanotubes. The electromagnetic shielding effectiveness has been measured by using a reverberation chamber. Measurements approach the metallic behavior with values of shielding up to 80 dB. Impact test on material has been performed by using a linear electromagnetic accelerator typically known as railgun. Results show that a thin and light tile of nanoreinforced composite material is able to absorb one shot with a local delamination of the layered structure. Overall goal was to develop a material which is simultaneously able to absorb mechanical shock waves and protect electronic equipment from electromagnetic interference.