Abstract

Great interest has aroused in developing the next generation body armour based on the incorporation of a Shear Thickening Fluid (STF) into high performance fabrics (Kevlar®, UHMWPE). This innovative technoloy allows for the production of comfortable, flexible, lightweight, stab and ballistic resistant protective garments. This innovative technology allows for the production of comfortable, flexible, lightweight, stab and ballistic resistant protective garments. The furrent research was undertaken to evaluate the stab resistance and the chemical properties of types of high performance fabrics, Kevlar and Ultra Hight Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE), impregnated with several types of shear thickening fluids. The stab resistance properties of all samples were tested using drop tower and quasistatic testing apparatuses. Chemical compositions and microscopic structures were analyzed with Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy. The current study demonstrated the importance of incorporating Shear Thickening Fluid into woven high performance fibres. The results clearly display a significant enhancement in puncture resistance ony of Kevlar® fabrics impregnated with different combination of STFs.

Highlights

  • 1.1 BackgroundToday, most soft body armours are designated for the protection of individuals whose lives are constantly endangered such as military personnel, law enforcement officers and security personnel

  • It seems that Shear Thickening Fluid (STF) deposition worked more efficiently on samples made with Kevlar® than Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene (UHMWPE) fabrics

  • This current study demonstrated the importance of incorporating a shear thickening fluid into woven high performance fibres

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Summary

Introduction

Most soft body armours are designated for the protection of individuals whose lives are constantly endangered such as military personnel, law enforcement officers and security personnel. According to crime statistics [1], ordinary citizens are at danger to fire arm attacks and more recently knife assaults. Despite the fact that these modern soft body armours retain superior ballistic protection, their stab resistance properties are highly questionable. Stab resistant garments offered by DuPont under the trade name Kevlar Correctional® are costly and lack absolute stab protection. DuPont’s product is not effective against ballistic threats, making it marginally useful only for correctional officers; ignoring the remaining law enforcement personnel. Other knife resistant materials available on the market such as metal ring mesh, rigid plates and titanium foil are bulky, uncomfortable and inflexible [2]

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