Preparation and characterization of shear thickening fluid coated polypropylene fabric for soft armour application

Abstract

Presently, high performance fibres have been used for soft body armours. However, the use of multilayer high performance fibres involves high cost and complex manufacturing process. The present analysis focused on preparation and characterization of shear thickening fluid coated, cost effective polypropylene fabric with high strength and modulus. Silicon dioxide (SiO₂) nanoparticles with different morphologies were synthesised through two different chemical routes. Various volume fractions of SiO₂ nanoparticles were dispersed in polyethylene glycol 200 M_w and the shear thickening behaviour was investigated. This analysis reveals that the viscosity of the fluid extensively depends on morphology, volume fraction and particle size distribution of the nanoparticles. The optimized composition of SiO₂ nanoparticles exhibiting shear thickening behaviour was coated on polypropylene fabric and subjected to the evaluation of puncture resistance at low and high speed with two different geometry of projectiles (elliptical and flat). The coating thickness of STF was optimized based on high strength, modulus and high puncture resistance.

Keywords:

• Shear thickening fluid
• silicon dioxide
• soft armour
• polypropylene woven fabric
• different puncture resistance indentor

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to express their sincere thanks to Dr. K. Prakalathan, Director (Academics), Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering and Technology (CIPET), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, for the help rendered during characterization, polymer testing lab facilities. The authors also wish to thank Dr. K. P. Bhuvana, Scientist, CIPET: School for Advanced Research in Polymers (SARP) - Advanced Research School for Technology and Product Simulation (ARSTPS), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India, for her help in carrying out this investigation and I dedicated this work to Government of India.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.