Bullet Resistant Panels - How SecureAll Fiberglass Stops a Bullet

SecureAll Fiberglass

Bullet Resistant Panels – How do UL752 SecureAll™ panels stop bullets?

SecureAll™ bullet resistant panels defeat a projectile through two physical phenomenon that occurs within the panel as it is impacted by the projectile. The first phenomenon that occurs is the blunting and spreading of the projectile's energy. This occurs when the bullet strikes the hard surfaces of the bullet resistant panel. The hard face of the panel flattens, or blunts, the leading edge of the projectile, or bullet, and thus causes the area of the impact to spread exponentially, thus spreading the force. The same theory applies when using a can opener (small area) on steel can rather than trying to use something like a spoon (large area).

SecureAll Bullet Resistant Panel - UL Level 4 shot w. 30 cal Rifle

The second phenomenon that occurs in bullet resistant panels is known as ply-delamination. As soon as the blunted bullet begins entering the bullet resistant fiberglass panel, the force of the entering bullet causes the various layers of the panel to delaminate, or separate. This process of delamination spreads the force of the entering bullet across the area of delamination and into the bullet resistant panel. This creates a virtual trap, or web, that decelerates the projectile to a stop by absorbing the energy of the bullet into the panel.

A precise ratio of glass-to-resin is required in order to allow the delamination process to occur. In typical fiberglass construction, such as cars, boats, and other construction, delamination is not a desirable trait. However, for bullet resistant panels, delamination is the mechanism by which a bullet resistant panel is able to stop bullets from penetrating.

As an added benefit to using SecureAll™ bullet resistant panels, both processes detailed above defeat projectiles without causing ricochet or spalling. Ricochets are said to be one of the main dangers of shooting due to the unpredictability of the bullet bouncing off of an object. Because the bullets are captured within the bullet resistant fiberglass panels, ricochet does not cause a threat to bystanders surrounding the panels. In this manner, bullet resistant fiberglass panels are safer than steel due to the fact that steel does allow bullets to ricochet. Spalling occurs when flakes of a material, such as a projectile, are broken off as a result of impact. When a projectile hits a surface, the softer metal inside of the projectile can break off, causing a spall just as deadly as the actual bullet. SecureAll™ bullet resistant panels allow the bullet to penetrate and become captured inside of the woven fiberglass, preventing the threat of spalling.