Disruptive fibers and textiles for flexible protection

Disruptive fibers for flexible armor and related applications require high modulus, tenacity, and thermal/environmental stability. In organic fibers, high stiffness arises from high molecular orientation, often coupled with high crystallinity within the polymer chains. On the other hand, the strength and modulus of composite fibers reinforced with fillers are mainly due to the load carrying capacity of the filler through load transfer at the interface. Nanoparticle fillers can reinforce the polymer matrix and can also modify the crystallization of the polymer matrix by changing crystallinity. Combined with high strength nanofillers, we will use new processes and materials to optimizing the performance of hybrid-fibers for flexible armor applications.