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Abstract
Through-thickness reinforcement structure of compound fabric was formed through a two-sided needle-punching and thermal-bonding processes. This study presents static and dynamic puncture resistances of compound fabric comprised of Kevlar /PA6/low-melting PET nonwoven, low-melting PET/PET nonwoven and woven fabric. The effect of the staple fibers fraction on puncture resistance was investigated to assess optimal fiber content in the nonwoven layer. Static and dynamic puncture failure models of non-thermal-bonded and thermal-bonded compound fabrics were constructed using a Weibull probability distribution to predict puncture failure reliability. Result indicates that puncture forces increased and then decreased with low-melting PET fibers, but steadily improved with recycled Kevlar fibers. Puncture failure probability models show that thermal-bonding largely improved failure reliability of the static puncture property, but slightly decreased dynamic puncture performance. Puncture failure mechanisms were respectively exposed according to SEM observations.
Keywords
fabrication, fiber, yarn, fabric formation, manufacture, processing
Puncture resistance is of interest to people working in different fields, such as labour-protection, package engineering, body armor and so on. Multiple-layer p- aramid woven fabrics are laminated to resist against high-level puncture damage by high-density weaving technology. However, the manufacturing process of these fabrics is very complicated and the cost is very expensive. Therefore, a compounding method is used to improve puncture resistance property via reducing interspace and mobility.
Decker et al. coated Kevlar fabric with non- Newtonian shear thickening fluid (STF) to improve static and dynamic resistance because STF addition reduced the mobility of filaments and yarns in the impact zone.1 Afterwards, some researchers focused on STF synthesis and the puncture resistance of STF- treated fabric.2-5 P-aramid fabric was used as the base material in these studies. Yu et al. investigated the knife puncture resistance property of STF-impregnated glass fabric, and indicated that STF/glass fabric offers superior puncture protection as compared to neat glass fabric.6 Gong et al. developed a STF enhanced fabrics and studied the influence of STF types on punc- ture resistance performance.7 They indicated inter-yarn friction played a critical role for improving puncture resistance. Resin impregnation is an alternative for improving puncture resistance. Mayo et al. studied puncture resistance of thermoplastic film impregnated aramid fabrics.8 Kim and Nam compared the puncture resistance of thermoplastic or thermoset reinforced p- aramid.9 They pointed out the maximum puncture...