A Study on the Low Speed Impact Response and Frictional Characteristics of Shear Thickening Fluid Impregnated Kevlar Fabrics

In this study, shear thickening fluid (STF) filled with rigid nano silica particles was impregnated in plain woven Kevlar fabrics to improve the impact resistance performance. The nano silica particles with an average diameter of 100nm, 300nm, and 500nm were used to make shear thickening fluid to estimate the effect of particle size on the impact behavior of STF impregnated Kevlar fabrics. The yam pull-out and frictional tests were conducted to estimate the effect of impregnated STF on the frictional characteristics. The test results showed that the friction forces were dramatically increased at the STF onset shear strain rates that were measured in preliminary rheology tests. The low speed impact tests were performed using the drop test machine. The results showed that the impregnated STF improved the impact resistance performance of the Kevlar fabrics in terms of the impact energy absorption and the deformation. It has been shown through tests that the impregnated STF affects the interfacial friction which contributes to improve the energy absorption in the Kevlar fabrics. Especially, the impregnation of the STF with the smaller particle size into the Kevlar fabrics showed the better performance in impact energy absorption.