The quasi-static (QS) puncture resistance of p-aramid Twaron fabric impregnated with shear thickening fluid (STF) based on the molecular weight variation of the base liquid has been investigated. To synthesis the STF, the 12 nm silica particles have been dispersed in polyethylene glycol (PEG) with two different molecular weights, 200 and 400 g/mol by means of mechanical mixing. The weight percentages of silica particles in the continuous phase were selected as 15, 25 and 35 wt%. The results of rheological tests indicate that with the increase of the polymer's molecular weight, the viscosity and instability of the suspension increase, while its critical shear rate diminishes. The STF impregnated Twaron fabrics were subjected to QS puncture resistance tests according to the ASTM standard D6264. The quasi-static puncture resistance increased about 4.5 fold for Twaron fabric impregnated with 35 wt% concentration STF relative to the neat Twaron. Also, with the increase of the PEG's molecular weight in Twaron fabrics impregnated with 15 and 25 wt% concentration STFs, the QS puncture resistance of Twaron fabrics improved considerably, but it didn't change too much in the Twaron fabric impregnated with 35 wt% concentration STF.

2015): The influences of particle-particle interaction and viscosity of carrier fluid on characteristics of silica and calcium carbonate suspensions-coated Twaron® composite, Journal of Experimental Nanoscience, ABSTRACTThe effects of particleÀparticle interaction and viscosity of carrier fluid on steady and dynamic rheological responses and quasi-static penetration resistance of Twaron® fabrics treated with shear thickening and shear thinning suspensions have been investigated. The suspensions have been made by mechanically dispersing 60 nm silica (SiO 2 ) and calcium carbonate (CaCO 3 ) nanoparticles in poly ethylene glycol (PEG) with molecular weights of 200 and 400 g/mol. The CaCO 3 suspensions display shear thinning behaviour along with the total dominance of the elastic state over the viscous state while the SiO 2 suspensions exhibit shear thickening behaviour with the emergence of both the elastic and viscous states. With the increase of molecular weight of PEG, viscosity, viscoelastic modules and instability of the suspensions increase and critical shear rate and frequency of transition to elastic state diminish. The PEG200 and PEG400-contained SiO 2 suspensions-treated Twaron® composites at 35 wt.% have quasi-static penetration resistances which are nearly 2.63 and 2.48 times and maximum absorbed energies which are about 1.54 and 1.55 times higher, respectively, than those of the corresponding CaCO 3 ones. However, the influence of increasing the PEG's molecular weight is not as considerable as the effect of particleÀparticle interaction on the enhancement of penetration resistance performance.

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The effect of impregnating p-aramid fabrics with shear thickening fluids on their quasi-static puncture resistance performance has been investigated. To prepare the shear thickening fluid, 12 and 60-nm silica particles have been dispersed in polyethylene glycol by means of mechanical mixing. The results of rheological tests indicate that the reduction of particle size leads to the increase of suspension viscosity, increase of critical shear rate, and the diminishing of the frequency of transition to elastic state for the shear thickening fluids. Samples of p-aramid impregnated fabrics were subjected to the quasi-static puncture resistance test according to the American Society for Testing and Materials standard D6264. The quasi-static puncture resistance increased 4.5 times for samples with 35 wt% silica concentration relative to the neat sample. In particular, with the reduction of particle size, the samples undergo less deformation and can withstand larger loads at each shear thickening fluid concentration. However, at low and medium concentrations (15 and 25 wt%), the reduction in the particle size has a large effect on the load-bearing capacity of the fabrics. But in the case of 35 wt% concentration for both the 12- and 60-nm particles, the difference between maximum loads withstood by the fabric is negligible.

Intelligent energy shunting fluid/fabric base structure which utilizes well-processed shear thickening fluid has been developed. The shear thickening fluid has been synthesized by a powerful mechanical stirrer to disperse 12 nm silica particles into polyethylene glycol 200 g/mol at three concentration levels from low to near maximum packing as 15, 25 and 35 wt%. Examining the rheological behavior of the shear thickening fluid indicates that the increase of shear thickening fluid concentration leads to significant increase in the suspension's initial, critical and ultimate (up to 10 4 Pa.s) viscosities, reduction of the critical shear rate, increase of viscoelastic modulus and instability of the suspension. The quasi-static puncture test results demonstrate with the increase of shear thickening fluid concentration, the maximum bearable load by the 15, 25 and 35 wt% shear thickening fluids-treated Twaron Õ composites increases by 132, 315 and 362%, and the energy absorption increases by 143, 159 and 209%, respectively, compared to the neat fabric. Regarding penetrator structure and dimension, by using rounded penetrators, windowing and pull-out mechanisms would be expected at low velocities. However, sharpnosed penetrators most likely cause yarns to push aside that is not taken into account Downloaded from as a perfect criteria for investigation of puncture resistance performance. Also, larger penetrators have a larger presented area of impact and, as a result, break more number of yarns to penetrate the fabric.