Effect of fabric stitching on ballistic impact resistance of natural rubber coated fabric systems

The effects of different stitching patterns on the ballistic impact resistance of multiple layer fabric systems were investigated. Several neat and natural rubber (NR) coated layers were combined and alternately arranged to form each fabric system. The fabric systems were stitched with 1-in. field diamond, 2-in. field diamond, diagonal, and perimeter stitching patterns. The ballistic limit performances of the fabric systems were compared with unstitched fabric system. The results showed that certain fabric stitching enhanced the ballistic resistance of the fabric systems. The 2-in. field diamond stitched system gave the highest ballistic limit in comparisons with other stitched patterns and unstitched fabric systems. Further ballistic tests revealed that at impact velocities between 407 and 420 m/s, the 2-in. field diamond stitched panel showed some improvement in reducing the backface deformation from fabric systems.