Advanced body armor utilizing shear thickening fluids
AssigneeUniversity of Delaware
InventorsNorman Wagner, Eric D. Wetzel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An armor composite material has been invented which contains a fabric which has been impregnated with shear thickening fluid. This invention offers a ballistic resistant material that is more flexible and less bulky than comparable, conventional ballistic fabric. The material in the alternative can be puncture resistant. The invented material offers superior ballistic performance and/or puncture resistance compared to conventional ballistic fabric-based materials of equal thickness. The invented material can be applied to applications requiring armor that is compact and/or flexible, such as body armor, protective clothing and flexible protective devices and shields, and stab resistant clothing and devices.
Claims36
A material for dissipating the kinetic energy of a moving object comprising a fabric or a yarn which further comprises a shear thickening fluid (STF) intercalated into said fabric and/or yarn wherein said STF remains in a fluid form and said STF comprises particles suspended in a solvent and said particle-solvent suspension remains in a flowable form after intercalation and said solvent is environmentally stable and remains integral to said material and said suspended particles during service.
A material for dissipating the kinetic energy of a moving object comprising a fabric or yarn which further comprises a shear thickening fluid (STF) intercalated into said fabric and/or yarn wherein said STF remains in a fluid form in said material during service.
A process for making the material, which comprises suspending particles in a solvent to form a shear thickening fluid and intercalating said shear thickening fluid in between yarns or fabrics of a material and wherein said STF remains in a fluid form in said material during service.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.