Summary
Body-armour materials made from p-aramid fabrics can be improved by adding nanoscale reinforcement to the polymer that binds the fabric layers together. This study uses electrospun nanofibres, together with nanoparticles and nanotubes, as reinforcement to raise the mechanical performance of composites intended for ballistic protection. Polyurethane/p-aramid multiaxial fabrics (Twaron and Colon) were impregnated with a poly(vinyl butyral) (PVB) ethanol solution containing different amounts of reinforcement, and to improve adhesion the fabrics were surface-treated with an aminosilane (AMEO) while silica nanoparticles were similarly silane-modified. The work is organised in three parts: the electrospinning process, ballistic testing of the p-aramid composites, and impact-tester analysis of the Colon composites, with dynamic mechanical analysis used to assess mechanical behaviour. The results show how PVB/silica nanofibre reinforcement and silane treatment enhance the mechanical, ballistic and impact properties of aramid composites.