In this study, polyurethane/polyurea coatings were exposed to four different types of aging: aging in the natural environment (NC), accelerated ultraviolet aging (UV), aging in a sodium chloride solution (NaCl), and thermal aging (TC). To monitor the changes that occurred during these processes, the thickness was measured and microscopic and macroscopic observations were conducted continuously. The samples aged under various conditions were then subjected to spectroscopic (FTIR) and thermal (TGA) analysis to determine the possible structural changes in the coatings. The dependence of aging conditions on the physicochemical properties of the tested coating surfaces was thoroughly investigated and characterized by the water contact angle and surface free energy. Adhesion tests were performed after the established aging period. The results show that different aging conditions have a tremendous effect on the appearance and pull-off strength. The coatings that age in a NaCl solution are more affected in terms of their adhesion.

This paper contains experimental results of mechanical testing of the AISI 304 steel with composite coatings. The main goal was to investigate the impact of the applied polyurea composite coating on selected mechanical properties: Adhesion, impact resistance, static behavior, and, finally, fatigue lifetime of notched specimens. In the paper the following configurations of coatings were tested: EP (epoxy resin), EP_GF (epoxy resin + glass fabric), EP_GF_HF (epoxy resin + glass fabric hemp fiber), EP_PUA (epoxy resin + polyurea) resin, EP_GF_PUA (epoxy resin + glass fabric + polyurea) resin, and EP_GF_HF_PUA (epoxy resin + glass fabric + hemp fiber + polyurea) resin. The highest value of force required to break adhesive bonds was observed for the EP_PUA coating, the smallest for the single EP coating. A tendency of polyurea to increase the adhesion of the coating to the base was noticed. The largest area of delamination during the impact test was observed for the EP_GF_HF coating and the smallest for the EP-coated sample. In all tested samples, observed delamination damage during the pull-off test was located between the coating and the metallic base of the sample.

The quasi-static penetration properties of hybrid laminates were experimentally investigated. Aramid fabrics, carbon fabrics, and short hemp fibres were applied as the reinforcements of hybrid and non-hybrid composite laminates with polyurethane–polyurea (PUR/PUA) matrix. The laminates were made by hand, in a mould. They were cured at room temperature for 24 h. Hybrid laminates consisted of aramid and carbon layers in two different configurations, i.e., aramid at the innermost layers and outermost layers. Aramid/PUR/PUA and carbon/PUR/PUA composites were fabricated for comparison purposes. Laminates were also prepared via an analogue sequence of laying the reinforcement layers with the addition of 5% by weight of hemp fibres in the PUR/PUA matrix. Quasi-static penetration tests (QSPT) were conducted using a tensile testing machine with a surface-hardened, hemispherical, steel punch (9 mm diameter tip), reflecting the geometry of the Parabellum projectile. A quasi-static puncture test was carried out until the laminate was perforated. The ratio between the support span (Ds) and the punch diameter (Dp) was SPR = Ds/Dp = 5.0. The results showed the influences of laminate hybridisation on the values of absorbed energy, punch shear strength, and damage mechanism in the QSPT test. The addition of hemp fibres to aramid laminates resulted in a positive hybridisation effect. The order of layers of aramid and carbon fabrics in hybrid laminates influenced the results obtained in the QSPT test.

This paper presents the results of research on ballistic panels made of polymer–matrix composites (PMCs). The analysis covers two types of composites produced by the authors based on high-density polyethylene (PEHD) and polypropylene (PP) reinforced with aramid fabric. Ballistic tests were carried out with the use of two types of projectile: 0.38 Special, and 9 × 19 Parabellum, which are characterized by different velocity and projectile energy. The study presents the X-ray computed tomography (XCT) analysis for structure assessment of ballistic panels and its impact behavior, further compared to the results of computer simulations conducted using the numerical analysis. The quality of the manufactured panels and their damage caused by a ballistic impact was assessed using a multi-scale geometry reconstruction. The mesoscale XCT allowed the internal composite geometry to be analyzed, as well as a unit cell of the representative volume element (RVE) model to be built. The RVE model was applied for homogenization and finite element (FEA) simulation of projectile penetration through the ballistic panel. The macroscale XCT investigation allowed for the quantitative description of the projectile’s impact on the degree of delamination and deformation of the panels’ geometry.

Interlayered composites with three types of cores were fabricated and tested. Quasi-static penetration tests (QSPTs), bending tests, and impact tests were conducted on the fabricated composites with carbon fiber epoxy laminate facings. Penetration test procedures were carried out until the composite was perforated and completely punctured. A 9 mm diameter rounded-tip punch was used; the diameter of the support hole was 45 mm. To determine the mechanical properties in the bending tests, three-point bending was carried out at a speed of 2 mm/min. Impact tests were also carried out using a Charpy impact test and a hammer with an energy of 2 J. Our findings indicate that the core material plays a crucial role in determining a composite’s mechanical behavior. Balsa cores offer the best properties in the QSPT test and bending strength and stiffness (57 MPa and 7.4 GPa, respectively), while Rohacell^® cores provide excellent impact resistance (12 kJ/m²). Nomex^® cores demonstrate high bending stiffness (5.3 GPa) but perform worse than Balsa. The choice of core material is application-dependent; Balsa cores are optimal for bending and point loads, and Rohacell^® cores are optimal for impact-dominated scenarios.

This work presents the experimental results of a quasi-static attempt at the penetration of hybrid and non-hybrid laminates reinforced with aramid and carbon fibres on a thermoplastic polypropylene matrix. The hybrid laminates were prepared in two fibre combinations: carbon–aramid–carbon (CAC), in which the carbon fibres comprised the outer (lining) layers, and aramid–carbon–aramid (ACA) with carbon fibres in their intermediate layers. A quasistatic penetration attempt was performed for two coefficients: SPR—support span to punch diameter ratio, (SPR = 2 and 5). The SPR = Ds/Dp was calculated as the ratio of the support (Ds) to the punch diameter (Dp). A punch with a rounded 9-mm diameter tip was used to penetrate the material. Percentage changes of penetration energy (%E) and of maximum load (%P) compared to a non-hybrid laminate with carbon fibres were calculated in order to estimate the impact of hybridisation on the properties of laminates. The maximum load recorded during a quasi-static penetration test was used to calculate the PSS (punch shear strength) of the laminates. The damage was observed after the penetration test. It was observed that both the order of layers of laminate reinforcement as well as the SPR coefficient used in the test influenced the obtained results and the laminate damage mechanism.