YARN PULL-OUT AND DROP WEIGHT IMPACT PERFORMANCE OF SHEAR THICKENING FLUID IMPREGNATED BALLISTIC FABRICS

Shear thickening fluids are known to enhance the performance of ballistic fabrics. However, the effect of shear thickening performance is influenced by various factors, primarily, the concentration of the shear thickening fluids applied onto the fabric. The preparation of highly concentrated shear thickening fluid is difficult in laboratory conditions. They cause a weight increase in the fabrics. Thus, this study aims to investigate the effect of impregnation of shear thickening fluid onto fabrics at lower concentrations. To this aim, shear thickening fluids were prepared at two concentrations (5% and 10%) and applied to three different types of para-aramid fabrics. Yarn pull-out test was established to check the effect of shear thickening fluid on frictional force between yarns of fabrics. Moreover, drop weight impact tests were applied to see the effect of shear thickening impregnation on the energy absorption behaviour of the single-ply ballistic fabrics. The findings were interpreted according to the concentration of shear thickening fluid solution as well as the fabric types.