COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF ROMA PLASTILINA NO. 1 AND WEIBLE PLASTILINA FOR BALLISTIC TESTING APPLICATIONS

In the field of body armour testing, the consistency and predictability of witness materials are crucial for accurately assessing the threat posed by projectiles. Roma Plastilina No. 1 modelling clay (present in different body armour standards like NIJ and CAST) has long been the typical material for validating body armour material in ballistic tests, offering well-documented properties in terms of consistency, density, and plasticity. However, the growing demand for alternative materials has led to the introduction of Weible Plastilina (current in the VPAM norm), a newer contender in the field. The work presented here aims to provide a comprehensive comparative analysis between Roma Plastilina No. 1 and Weible Plastilina, by evaluating their characteristics, and their overall suitability for use in ballistic testing. Through controlled experimental tests, including standardized penetration tests according to the NIJ0101.04 level IIIA and VPAM APR 2006 level 3 and level 4, the materials response to different projectile impacts were tested, with particular attention to the differences in performance under varying temperature conditions according to the different norms. The purpose of this research is not to rank the different modelling clays but inform the ballistic community on how the two materials behave during ballistic tests, providing insights that could influence future material choices for ballistic testing applications.