Enhanced dynamic stab resistance and UV-resistance of flexible and lightweight Kevlar fabrics impregnated with multi-phase shear thickening fluid

Abstract

Multifunctional smart soft armor materials always among the relentless pursuits of scientists to meet the demand of extreme environments. In this study, a novel dynamic stab resistance material owned ultraviolet (UV) resistance property constructed with Kevlar fabrics impregnated with a multi-phase shear thickening fluid (STF) composed of SiO2 and TiO2 nanoparticles as disperse phase was fabricated. The rheology test showed that the shear thickening effect displayed stronger with the concentration of TiO2 in STF (TSTF) increasing. Moreover, compared with STF, the addition of 16 % TiO2 in STF induced a prominent enhancement in peak viscosity from 550.81 to 3143.29 Pa s. Based on the favorable shear thickening performance of TSTF, the dynamic stab resistance property of the optimal TSTF/Kevlar (TSK) was increased 1.43 folds than that of neat Kevlar (NK). Furthermore, after 168 h UV irradiation, the peak stab force and dissipation energy of the optimal one were 698.43 N and 16.92 J retained 85.95 % and 86.24 %, which was 2.96 and 3.22 folds than that of UV-NK. This multi-functional composite material with the performance of resisting both stab impact and UV in extreme environments had broad application prospects in the field of lightweight protection.