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US 12,552,132 B2Granted
Impact-resistant, damage tolerant composites with shear thickening fluid layers and uses thereof
AssigneeSTF Technologies, LLC
InventorsNorman J. Wagner, Richard Dombrowski
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Composite materials incorporated with shear thickening fluids (STF) are disclosed. The STF-composites are light weight and include high tenacity textiles that dissipate/absorb energy from impact forces and exhibit damage resistance and self-healing functionality. Also disclosed are articles comprising STF-composite materials, such as safety suits and extra-vehicular mobility units, which include STF-intercalated textiles and composites. Methods for Manufacturing STF-composites are also disclosed.
Claims16
A multi-layer hybrid composite with increased impact resistance and damage tolerance, the composite comprising:
- (1) a first composite member comprising one or more composite layers having a first outer perimeter;
- and
- (2) at least one energy absorber layer disposed on or within the one or more composite layers, the energy absorber layer having a second outer perimeter disposed within the first outer perimeter, the energy absorber layer comprising:
- (i) a fabric comprising a plurality of fibers having a tensile strength of at least about 250 MPa;
- and
- (ii) a shear thickening fluid comprising at least one carrier fluid in which is suspended particles having an average particle size of less than about 4,000 nm, wherein the shear thickening fluid is intercalated into the fabric;
- wherein the energy absorber layer confers to the multi-layer hybrid composite increased impact resistance and damage tolerance as compared to a multi-layer composite without an energy absorber layer;
- wherein the carrier fluid is a hydrocarbon fluid, a fluorinated polyether, a silicone fluid, or a combination of a hydrocarbon fluid and a fluorinated polyether;
- and
- wherein the carrier fluid comprises a perfluoropolyether or a multiply-alkylated cyclopentane.
7 more elements
A composite structure comprising:
- (1) a first composite member comprising one or more composite layers having a first outer perimeter;
- (2) a first energy absorber layer comprising a fabric in which is intercalated a shear thickening fluid and wherein the shear thickening fluid comprises at least one carrier fluid in which is suspended particles having an average particle size of less than about 4,000 nm, wherein the fabric of the first energy absorber layer comprises plurality of fibers having a tensile strength of at least about 250 MPa, and wherein the shear thickening fluid comprises about 40% to about 85% by weight of particles;
- and
- (3) a second composite member comprising one or more composite layers having a second outer perimeter;
- wherein the first energy absorber layer is disposed between the first composite member and the second composite member, has a third outer perimeter disposed within the first outer perimeter and/or the second outer perimeter, and dissipates impact energy when applied to the composite structure;
- wherein each composite layer of the first composite member, the second composite member, or both the first composite member and the second composite member comprises a plurality of carbon fibers, glass fibers, or a combination of carbon fibers and glass fibers;
- and
- wherein the first fabric comprises a plurality of fibers selected from the group consisting of aramid fibers, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fibers, expanded/stretched polytetrafluoroethylene fibers, polyethylene terephthalate fibers, fibers made from copolymers of paraphenylenediamine and diaminodiphenyl ether, aromatic polyester fibers produced by polycondensation of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and 6-hydroxynapthalene-2-carboxylic acid, and any combination thereof;
- wherein the carrier fluid of the first shear thickening fluid is a low volatility carrier fluid having a vapor pressure of less than about 1×10−6 mPa at 25° C.;
- and
- wherein the low volatility carrier fluid comprises a perfluoropolyether or a multiply-alkylated cyclopentane.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.