Plain Kevlar and a CNT-reinforced Kevlar epoxy polymer composite: Comparative study of its mechanical, low velocity and ballistic impact properties

This study focuses on the development of an advanced material using Kevlar-reinforced polymer epoxy composites reinforced with 1% carbon nanotubes for armor application. The tensile strength, flexural strength, low-velocity impact strength, and ballistic impact strength were analyzed for plain Kevlar reinforced epoxy composite and multi-walled carbon nanotubes reinforced polymer composite. The sonification method was employed in the current research to acquire a uniform mixture of multi-walled carbon nanotubes in epoxy resin for fabricating multi-walled carbon nanotubes reinforced Kevlar epoxy composites. All the tests were conducted under standard test conditions. The results showed the addition of 1% multi-walled carbon nanotubes in Kevlar epoxy polymer composites has decreased the tensile strength, flexural strength, low-velocity impact resistance, and ballistic impact resistance. The common reason for the decrease in properties of the composite is the increased agglomeration of multi-walled carbon nanotubes in the epoxy matrix, which allows an increase in porosity of the multi-walled nanotubes reinforced Kevlar epoxy composite compared to plain Kevlar epoxy composite. Maximum tensile strength is 197.10 MPa and maximum flexural strength is 131.98 MPa for plain Kevlar epoxy polymer composite. The common failure mechanisms observed during testing were deformation, fiber cracking, matrix cracking, intercrystalline fracture, and agglomeration. Graphical Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.]