Stab-resistant fabric gains strength from carbon nanotubes, polyacrylate


Date:
April 19, 2023
Source:
American Chemical Society
Summary:
Fabrics that resist knife cuts can help prevent injuries and
save lives.

But a sharp enough knife or a very forceful jab can get through
some of these materials. Now, researchers report that carbon
nanotubes and polyacrylate strengthen conventional aramid
to produce lightweight, soft fabrics that provide better
protection. Applications include anti- stabbing clothing, helmets
and insoles, as well as cut-resistant packaging.


Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIN Email
FULL STORY ========================================================================== Fabrics that resist knife cuts can help prevent injuries and save
lives. But a sharp enough knife or a very forceful jab can get through
some of these materials. Now, researchers report in ACS Applied Nano Materialsthat carbon nanotubes and polyacrylate strengthen conventional
aramid to produce lightweight, soft fabrics that provide better
protection. Applications include anti-stabbing clothing, helmets and
insoles, as well as cut-resistant packaging.


==========================================================================
Soft body armor is typically made from aramid, ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene, or carbon and glass fabrics. Their puncture resistance
depends, in part, on the friction between yarn fibers within
these materials. Up to a point, greater friction means greater
protection. Manufacturers can boost friction by roughening the fiber
surfaces, but that requires a complicated process, and product yield
is low. Alternatively, the bonding force between yarns can be enhanced
by adding another component, such as a sheer thickening fluid (STF)
or a polyurethane (PU) coating. But these composite fabrics can't simultaneously satisfy the requirements for thinness, flexibility and
light weight. Ting-Ting Li, Xing-xiang Zhang and colleagues wanted to
find another way to improve performance while satisfying these criteria.

The researchers tested a polyacrylate emulsion (PAE), STF and PU as
coatings on aramid fabric. In simulated stabbing tests, aramid fabric
coated with PAE outperformed the uncoated material used by itself
or in combination with STF or PU. Carbon nanotubes are known to make
composites tougher, and adding them to aramid/PAE further improved impact resistance. The team says that's because the nanotubes created bridges
between the fibers, thereby increasing friction. The nanotubes also formed
a thin, protective network that dispersed stress away from the point
of impact and helped prevent fiber disintegration. The new lightweight, flexible, puncture-resistant composite fabric could be useful in military
and civilian applications, according to the researchers.

* RELATED_TOPICS
o Matter_&_Energy
# Wearable_Technology # Graphene # Nanotechnology
# Textiles_and_Clothing # Civil_Engineering #
Materials_Science # Engineering_and_Construction #
Construction
* RELATED_TERMS
o Carbon_nanotube o Fullerene o Materials_science o
Nanotechnology o Solar_power o Carbon-14 o Silicone o Lead

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by American_Chemical_Society. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Wen-hua Cai, Ting-ting Li, Xing-xiang Zhang. Polyacrylate and
Carboxylic
Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube-Strengthened Aramid Fabrics
as Flexible Puncture-Resistant Composites for Anti-Stabbing
Applications. ACS Applied Nano Materials, 2023; 6 (7): 6334 DOI:
10.1021/acsanm.3c00738 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/04/230419125110.htm

--- up 1 year, 7 weeks, 2 days, 10 hours, 52 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1:317/3)