Fabrication and Impact Properties of Shear-Thickening Fluid-Impregnated High-Performance Fabric Composites

This chapter provides a comprehensive review of fabrication methods and impact properties of the shear-thickening fluid (STF)-impregnated high-performance fabrics for soft-body armor applications. After the latest developments in the field of STF-impregnated fabrics in the early years of 2000s, many researchers have worked on the development of high-performance fabrics for improved ballistic performance. In this chapter, the theoretical background behind the shear-thickening behavior and the mechanism is briefly discussed. Further to this, the constituting elements required for the preparation of STF have been discussed in detail. Silica particles in combination with polyethylene glycol have been utilized for the preparation of STF in many cases. Apart from this, hybrid STF suspensions have been reported, where SiC (Silicone Carbide), Al2O3 (Aluminum Oxide), CNT (Carbon Nanotube), GO (Graphene Oxide), CaCO3 (Calcium Carbonate) cellulose beads, and ceria have been considered an additive to improve the shear-thickening properties. These findings suggest that there is a need to look into the use of new materials for the development of high-performance impact-resistant materials in the near future.