A new generation of aramid fibers/poly (vinyl butyral) composites for ballistic protection: Recent development and advances

Abstract

In recent times, para-aramid fabrics have become widely used in the design of composite structures for defense, automotive, and aerospace sectors, sports equipment, and other various applications. High-performance para-aramid fibers form the foundation of lightweight ballistic materials, typically as a woven fabric or a non-woven cross-plied unidirectional material, usually impregnated with a thermosetting or thermoplastic polymeric matrix. Currently, efforts are under way to enhance the impact protection performance of these composites by incorporating reinforcement such as ceramics, nanofibers, various nanoparticles, nanotubes, and their modified hybrid structures with a poly (vinyl butyral) (PVB) thermoplastic matrix. The aramid fibers reinforce the composite’s strength and thermal stability, while the PVB matrix offers flexibility, toughness and impact resistance. This survey presents the effects of adding different nanofillers and their hybrids on impact resistance and overall performance of these p-aramid fibers/poly (vinyl butyral) composites, focusing on improved elastic modulus and energy absorption following the ballistic impact and knife penetrations of the composites. Overall, incorporating hybrid nanofillers into aramid fiber/PVB composites results in materials with superior impact resistance, thus enhanced protective capabilities, making them ideal for high-performance applications.