Thermoplastic Laminated Composites Applied to Impact Resistant Protective Gear: Structural Design and Development

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Science

Background:

• Laminated composites are widely used across various fields.
• Kevlar woven fabrics offer functional properties when integrated into composites.
• Improving intralayer features is crucial for advanced composite performance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To enhance the intralayer properties of Kevlar/TPU laminated composites.
• To investigate the impact of incorporating two types of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU).
• To evaluate the mechanical performance, including tensile strength, dynamic puncture resistance, and buffer strength.

Main Methods:

• Incorporation of two distinct TPU types into Kevlar woven fabrics.
• Fabrication of Kevlar/TPU laminated composites with varying TPU blending ratios and stacking thicknesses.
• Mechanical testing to assess tensile strength, dynamic puncture resistance, and buffer strength.

Main Results:

• A TPU blending ratio of 85/15 wt% yielded a tensile strength of 18.08 MPa.
• At 1 mm stacking thickness, tensile strength reached 357.73 N and buffer strength was 4224.40 N.
• A 1.2 mm thick composite demonstrated a dynamic resistance of 672.15 N, preserving Kevlar fiber morphology.

Conclusions:

• Kevlar/TPU laminated composites exhibit improved mechanical properties due to TPU interlayers.
• The optimized TPU blend and thickness enhance tensile, puncture, and buffer strengths.
• These composites show significant potential for protective gear applications, maintaining fabric integrity.