5TH International Congress on Technology - Engineering & Science - Kuala Lumpur - Malaysia (2018-02-01)

Enhanced Shear Thickening Effect Of Silica Nanoparticle Suspension By Using Carbon Nanotube For The Body Armour And Energy Absorbing Applications

Shear thickening effect of concentrated particular suspension has recently become one of the most interesting behaviors from a rheological point of view. It shows a dramatic increase in the shear viscosity when shear rate or stress reaches to a certain value. This kind of liquid-to-solid transition enable to make the body armour and energy absorbing devices with light weight and flexibility compared with the conventional devices. In this study, the shear thickening fluid based on the suspension of silica nanoparticles in polyethylene glycol has been prepared. The addition of a small amount of carbon nanotube into a silica nanoparticle suspension can enhance the effect of shear thickening with significant change in viscosity, critical shear rate for the shear thickening transition. The suspension of silica nanoparticle with carbon nanotube exhibits a similar viscosity trend as a function of shear rate, but it has led to remarkable changes in the viscosity and critical shear rate with significantly lower concentrations. This result can be used to make stronger and lighter body armour.
YOUNGSIL LEE, KWANHAN YOON