Increased interyarn friction through ZnO nanowire arrays grown on aramid fabric

Interyarn friction is one of the primary energy absorption mechanisms in soft body armor. However, increasing the frictional sliding force between yarns of the aramid fabric in order to enhance the ballistic resistance is challenging without damaging the fibers. Here, a novel method is developed to increase the tow to tow friction in aramid fabric through the growth of zinc oxide nanowires on the fiber surface. The vertically aligned nanowires lead to ∼23 times higher energy absorption and ∼11 times higher peak load compared to neat fabrics, while retaining the full flexibility and mechanical strength of the original aramid fabrics. The interfacial mechanism of increasing friction associated with nanowires is studied and characterized using scanning electron microscopy.