Synthesis, processing and characterization of impact hardening gel (IHG) reinforced Kevlar fabric composites

• Main Authors: Shen Li, Qianqian Fu, Kun Qian, Kejing Yu, Hongfu Zhou, Yunxuan Weng, Zhongwei Zhang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier 2020-10-01
• Series: Materials & Design
• Subjects: Impact hardening gel (IHG); Kevlar fabric; Reinforcing particles; Impact behavior
• Online Access: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264127520305748

The impact hardening gel (IHG) reinforced Kevlar fabric composite is a new type of protective material prepared by Kevlar fabric as dispersed phase and IHG as matrix. In this paper, IHG was strengthened by SiO2 and T-ZnOw particles, and then the Kevlar fabric was compounded by dipping and sandwich lamination. With the help of rheological testing and yarn pull-out testing, the relationship between microscopic shear rate and the macroscopic linear velocity was established. To verify the enhancement effect of the material, the low velocity impact testing was used to analyze the impact response and damage morphology. And the energy dissipation mechanism of the material was obtained. As a result, the reinforcing particles significantly increased the energy storage modulus of IHG, and the friction between the fibers of Kevlar/IHG impregnated composites. The structure-optimized sandwich material had a significant energy absorption effect, which was 41.9% higher than that of the untreated Kevlar fabric. This provided the theoretical basis and reference for the optimal development of lightweight anti-impact flexible protection materials.