Ciencia Dos Materiais

Most materials, especially polymers, can, after exposure to environmental

agents, degrade by chemical and physical processes and have their performance

modified. The rate of degradation, slow or fast, which depends on the kind of agent,

will influence the useful lifetime of the material. The increased use of the polymers in

ballistic armor and the insufficient information about the influence of environmental

degradation on the dynamic behavior show the need of additional studies. In the

present work, using exposition to gamma radiation to accelerate degradation, the

mechanical and ballistic behavior of a transparent laminate armor manufactured

with polycarbonate plates was studied. The results are presented and discussed.Most materials, especially polymers, can, after exposure to environmental

agents, degrade by chemical and physical processes and have their performance

modified. The rate of degradation, slow or fast, which depends on the kind of agent,

will influence the useful lifetime of the material. The increased use of the polymers in

ballistic armor and the insufficient information about the influence of environmental

degradation on the dynamic behavior show the need of additional studies. In the

present work, using exposition to gamma radiation to accelerate degradation, the

mechanical and ballistic behavior of a transparent laminate armor manufactured

with polycarbonate plates was studied. The results are presented and discussed. A maioria dos materiais, especialmente os polímeros, podem degradar após

exposição a agentes ambientais, por processos químicos e físicos e terem o seu

desempenho modificado. A velocidade de degradação, lenta ou rápida, que depende

do tipo de agente, irá influenciar a vida útil do material. O aumento do emprego

de polímeros em blindagens balísticas e a pequena disponibilidade de informações

sobre a influência da degradação ambiental no comportamento dinâmico dos polí-

meros mostram a necessidade da realização de estudos adicionais. No presente

trabalho foi estudado o comportamento mecânico e balístico de uma blindagem

laminada transparente produzida com placas de policarbonato (PC), empregando-

-se a exposição à radiação gama como um meio acelerado de degradação. Os

resultados são apresentados e disc