MAINSTREAM ENGINEERING CORP — Department of Defense SBIR Phase I: A16-065

Description

There is an urgent need to improve protection of our soldiers without losing mobility and maneuverability. As personal protection equipment becomes more sophisticated and multifunctional for protection against ballistics, shrapnel, and stabbing, it has also become heavier and more cumbersome. This additional mass can inhibit troop movement and potentially compromise the mission and even survivability. Therefore, there is an immediate need to replace existing ceramic ballistic plates such as the SAPI, ESAPI, SBI, and ESBI with lighter and thinner materials.Recent advances in nanostructured metal alloys have demonstrated enhanced mechanical and strength properties compared to macroscopic alloys. These nanostructured or ultrafine-grained (UFG) alloys can exhibit extremely high specific strength (strength relative to mass). Specific strength, elastic modulus and strain to failure are the key mechanical properties of ballistic protection. However the manufacturing of nanostructured alloys is difficult to control and scale. Mainstream Engineering will develop nanostructured alloys through additive and advanced manufacturing lightweight, high strength ballistic alloys.