Abstract
A simple and effective method for impregnation of p-aramid (Kevlar®) fabric with shear thickening fluid (STF) has been developed in this research. Kevlar fabric was impregnated with STF in two stages in a sequential manner. Three levels of pressure (0.5, 1 and 2 bar) were used in each stage of impregnation. It was observed that impact energy absorption by Kevlar fabrics, impregnated with STF in this newly developed method, increased significantly as compared to untreated Kevlar fabrics and Kevlar fabrics treated with STF in conventional way (single step impregnation). Better results were obtained when the first impregnation pressure was higher than that of the second, even with same combination of pressures. Such fabrics also showed a much higher STF add-on (~18 %) as compared to that of fabrics impregnated in single step (3-5 %). Low velocity ballistic tests also confirmed the advantages of the new method as sequentially impregnated fabric showed 124.8 % and 24.4 % increase in impact energy absorption compared to untreated and STF impregnated Kevlar fabrics in single step, respectively.
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Majumdar, A., Butola, B.S., Srivastava, A. et al. Improving the impact resistance of p-aramid fabrics by sequential impregnation with shear thickening fluid. Fibers Polym 17, 199–204 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12221-016-5839-7
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12221-016-5839-7