Advanced functional safeguarding composites with enhanced anti-impact and excellent thermal properties

Personal safety protection has played an important role in daily life. Developing advanced functional safeguarding composites with enhanced anti-impact and excellent thermal properties will be a significant development for body armor. Herein, Kevlar fiber reinforced polymers (KFRP) were fabricated by introducing short Kevlar fibers (KFs) into a shear stiffening elastomer (SSE). The storage modulus of KFRP with 15 wt% KFs (KFRP-15%) increased from 222.8 kPa to 830.8 kPa when the shear frequency varied from 0.1 Hz to 100 Hz. KFRP-15% achieved a higher tensile strength (2.65 MPa) and fracture toughness (11.95 kJ/m²) than SSE in the vertical type, showing superior tear resistance. Additionally, KFRP-15% exhibited promising anti-impact properties, which could dissipate the drop hammer impact force from 1.74 kN to 0.56 kN and remained intact after 10 consecutive impacts. Moreover, KFRP-15% also presented excellent stab-resistant performance. In addition, KFRP-15% also showed improved heat transfer properties, flame retardancy, and smoke suppression capabilities. Finally, functional bracers based on KFRP-15% for protection, thermal-dissipation, and flame-retardant were successfully prepared.