Shear thickening fluids in cork composites for impact mitigation: the role of fumed silica concentration

• Author(s): Oliveira, L. ; Serra, G. F. ; Gürgen, S. ; Novais, R. M. ; de Sousa, R. J. Alves ; Fernandes, F. A. O.
• Date: 2024
• Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10773/41277
• Origin: RIA - Repositório Institucional da Universidade de Aveiro
• Document Type: Journal article
• Language: English

Description

Cork composites have shown excellent potential in impact mitigating systems. Their sustainability greatly surpasses the currently used solutions. In addition, recent advances in developing cork composites with shear thickening fuids (STFs) have demonstrated exciting results for impact mitigation. This study explores diferent STF formulations based on polyethylene glycol (PEG), with a molecular weight of 400 g/mol, and SiO2 particles, investigating their application in layered cork composites for impact mitigation. Diferent STF formulations are investigated by processing suspensions with diferent fumed silica concentrations ranging from 10 to 60 wt.%. Using a cone–plate confguration, rheological measurements were conducted on these suspensions, which were then employed as an interfacial layer in agglomerated cork composite layered structures. These hybrid composites were then subjected to 20 J impact tests. PEG 400 exhibited fuid fnal states for silica concentrations up to 30 wt.% and crystallised at higher concentrations. Based on the results, STF within cork layers was positive regarding impact force reduction, drawing insights for future application of STF suspensions in cork composites for impact mitigation.