High Velocity Impact Characteristics of Shear Thickening Fluid Impregnated Kevlar Fabric

Abstract

The development of high performance fabrics have advanced body armor technology and improved ballistic performance while maintaining flexibility. Utilization of the shear thickening phenomenon exhibited by Shear Thickening Fluids (STF) has allowed further enhancement without hindering flexibility of the fabric through a process of impregnation. The effect of STF impregnation on the ballistic performance of fabrics has been studied for impact velocities below 700 m/s. Studies of STF-impregnated fabrics for high velocity impacts, which would provide a transition to significantly higher velocity ranges, are lacking. This study aims to investigate the effect of STF impregnation on the high velocity impact characteristics of Kevlar fabric by effectively dispersing silica nanoparticles in a suspension, impregnating Kevlar fabrics, and performing high velocity impact experiments with projectile velocities in the range of 1 km/s to compare the post impact characteristics between neat Kevlar and impregnated Kevlar fabrics. 100 nm diameter silica nanoparticles were dispersed using a homogenizer and sonicator in a solution of polyethylene glycol (PEG) and diluted with methanol for effective impregnation to Kevlar fabric, and the methanol was evaporated in a heat oven. High velocity impact of STF-impregnated Kevlar fabric revealed differences in the post impact rear formation compared to neat Kevlar.