para-Aramid Fiber Sheets for Simultaneous Mechanical and Thermal Protection in Extreme Environments

Citation:

136 -, Gonzalez GM, Ward J, Song J, Swana K, Fossey SA, Palmer JL, Zhang FW, Lucian VM, Cera L, Zimmerman JF, Burpo FJ, and Parker KK. 9/2/2020. “para-Aramid Fiber Sheets for Simultaneous Mechanical and Thermal Protection in Extreme Environments.” Matter, 3, 3, Pp. 742-758. Publisher's Version

Abstract:

First responders and military personnel working under extreme conditions require protection against multiple hazards, including thermal and ballistic protection. However, traditional materials lack multiple types of protection in a single protective layer. By controlling the chemical and structural makeup of high-performance fibers across multiple length scales, this work demonstrates a multifunctional sheet capable of providing simultaneous thermal and ballistic protection. These sheets are composed of long, continuous fibers to resist a mechanical load and large pores to limit heat transfer. By combining these structure-function properties, these fibers overcome traditional trade-offs, providing mechanical performance equivalent to commercially available ballistic fibers while providing 20-fold insulation capability. Overcoming previous limitations, this approach enables simultaneous thermal and mechanical protection for astronauts, bomb disposal experts, and warfighters.
Last updated on 04/21/2022