Combing High-Modulus Fibers with a Novel Foaming Structure Applied to Protective Sandwich-Structured Composites: Manufacturing Techniques and Property Evaluations

This study proposes the composites with a sandwich structure that is primarily made by the multi-step foaming process. The staple material is polyurethane (PU) foam that is combined with carbon fibers, followed by a Kevlar woven fabric. The composites are evaluated in terms of puncture resistance, buffer absorption, and electromagnetic wave shielding effectiveness (EMSE). The manufacturing process provides the composites with a stabilized structure efficiently. Serving the interlayer, a Kevlar woven fabric are sealed between a top and a bottom layer consisting of both PU foam and an aluminum film in order, thereby forming five-layered composites. Namely, the upper and lower surfaces of the five-layered sandwiches are aluminum films which is laminated on a purpose for the EMSE reinforcement. The test results indicate that the PU foam composites are well bonded and thus acquire multiple functions from the constituent materials, including buffer absorption, puncture resistance, and EMSE. There is much prospect that the PU foam composites can be used as a protective material in diverse fields owing to a flexible range of functions.

Automated summary

This study proposes composites with a sandwich structure made by a multi-step foaming process. Polyurethane foam is combined with carbon fibers and a Kevlar woven fabric. The composites are evaluated for puncture resistance, buffer absorption, and electromagnetic wave shielding effectiveness. The manufacturing process efficiently provides a stabilized structure to the composites. The test results show that the PU foam composites have multiple functions and can be used as a protective material in diverse fields.