• International Journal of Aeronautical and Space Sciences
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.140-145
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• 2013

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.

• Composites Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.17-24
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• 2007

In this study, the failure modes by ballistic impacts were studied both for a neat Kevlar woven fabric and a Kevlar liquid armor impregnated with shear thickening fluid (STF) containing silica particles. These two materials showed quite different failure modes macroscopically in ballistic impacts tests used by Cal.22 FSP and 9mm FMJ bullet. Yarn pull-out for the neat Kevlar woven fabric and yarn fracture occurred partially through all plies from 1st ply to last one for the STF-Kevlar are an important energy absorption mechanisms. The results observed by S.E.M showed commonly fiber damage which are torn skin in the longitudinal fiber direction, fiber split axially and fiber fracture for two materials. The reasons why STF-kevlar liquid armor material exhibits excellent ballistic performance are as follow: firstly the increased friction forces between yarn-yarn and fabric-fabric covered with silica particles and secondary the evolution of shear thickening phenomenmon resulting in suppression of yarn mobility.

• Composites Research
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.24-32
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• 2016

Ballistic impact analyses have been performed with the Kevlar fabric impregnated with STF(shear thickening fluid). Multi-layer laminates modeled with 3D isoparametric shell elements were used for the performance analysis and their results are compared with experimental results. Both experiments and numerical analyses have been done to verify the usefulness of STF to enhance the impact resistance performance. The results showed that STF increases friction within a bundle of fiber, and this phenomena is more apparent in the velocity range of under near 450 m/s. In this research, it is emphasized that FEA analyses of STF impregnated Kevlar fabric laminate were successfully conducted using shell elements. Moreover, the effectiveness of the technique and accuracy were verified through the comparison with reliable experimental data.

• Composites Research
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.1-7
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• 2007

Manufacturing process of the shear thickening fluid(STF) and evaluation of the ballistic penetration resistance performance of the Kevlar-STF composites were studied. STF was made from silica and ethylene glycol, and the Kevlar-STF composite was made by impregnating the STF into the Kevlar fabric. Specimens including neat Kevlar woven fabrics and Kevlar-STF composites with two types of silica were prepared and carried out the ballistic tests. From the results STFs represented shear thickening behavior irrespective of the silica type, and Kevlar-STF composite with spherical silica showed best ballistic penetration resistance performance among them. Especially the specimens of Kevlar-STF composites with spherical silica showed radial fiber deformation by the projectile during the tests, that was somewhat different deformation behavior from those of the neat Kevlar fabrics shown fiber pull-out phenomena or fracture.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Manufacturing Process Engineers
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.21-28
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• 2017

This study investigated Kevlar fabric impregnated with shear thickening fluid (STF). The STF performance was assessed by comparing bullet-proof characteristics of STF impregnated and pure Kevlar material. The analysis employed a circular steel ball as the nominal warhead, and bulletproof characteristics were evaluated by the warhead residual velocity. Various initial velocity conditions were employed, with different bulletproof characteristics apparent for each velocity region. The results of this study provide effective data for future bulletproof material design and application.

• Composites Research
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.23-30
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• 2008

Stab threats using sharp edged or pointed Instruments could be easily encountered by police officers or soldiers. In this study, the shear thickening fluids (STF) was impregnated into Kevlar fabrics to improve the stab protection and the resistance of STF impregnated Kevlar fabrics was experimentally investigated. The puncture and cut resistance were tested using a drop test machine withspike and knife indenters fabricated based on the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) standard. The STF was filled with spherical $SiO_2$ particles having an average diameter of 100nm, 300nm, and 500nm. The effect of particle size on puncture and cut resistance of STF impregnated Kevlar fabrics was also investigated. The measured impact load histories showed that STF impregnation into fabric leads to withstand higher peak loads than that of neat fabrics under spike test. The test results showed that Kevlar impregnated with STF exhibit remarkable improvements in puncture resistance while it is slightly influential on the cut resistance. Specifically, particle size is the one of the dominant factors controlling fabric resistance to puncture under spike impact test.