Facile armour production from cocoon waste by a cold pressing process

Abstract

Utilizing cocoon waste as reinforcement in composites offers a cost-effective alternative for soft body armour production. Cocoon waste, including damaged or uncoiled cocoons and those with pupae, is recognized as an eco-friendly choice. This study aims to develop and assess the incorporation of varying amounts of cocoon waste as reinforcement in epoxy resin matrix composites through the cold pressing process. The cocoon waste content in the composite specimens ranged from 0 – 40 wt%. Tensile testing and ballistic impact testing were conducted to evaluate specimen performance. The cocoon waste composite plate exhibited a maximum tensile strength of 62.21 MPa at 30 wt%, slightly surpassing that of woven hemp. These findings indicate the advantageous reinforcement attributes of cocoon waste. However, a limitation was identified: bullets fully penetrated the composite plate. To address this, ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene was incorporated in cocoon waste composite, resulting in enhanced tensile strength (107.36 MPa) and complete bullet penetration prevention. These outcomes position the study as a promising avenue for developing body armour plates meeting the stringent Level II certification standards set by the National Institute of Justice.