Superhydrophobic Aramid Composite Materials for Stab‐Resistant Vests: Integration of Fluorinated SiC Nanoparticles and TPU

Abstract

ABSTRACT Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) has found extensive applications in textiles, furniture coatings, etc., and this is attributed to its outstanding chemical resistance and hydrophobicity. However, its susceptibility to friction‐induced wear, which disrupts the surface nano‐microstructures and erodes hydrophobicity, severely curtails its practical utility. Silicon carbide (SiC) has been recognized for its ability to enhance polymer abrasion resistance and acid–alkali corrosion resistance. In this study, a novel approach was adopted to synthesize hydrophobic SiC by grafting perfluorooctyltriethoxysilane (PFOTS) onto nano‐SiC via chemical grafting. The resulting modified SiC was then integrated with TPU to formulate an F‐SiC/TPU composite coating, which was applied to aramid fabrics using a knife‐coating technique. The coated fabrics demonstrated remarkable superhydrophobicity, registering a water contact angle of 161°. Notably, the hydrophobicity endured even after rigorous sandpaper abrasion and tape‐peeling tests. Additionally, the coating remained stable following 12‐h immersion in highly corrosive media, such as 98% concentrated sulfuric acid and 40% sodium hydroxide solutions. In terms of anti‐stab performance, the static anti‐stab force of the coated fabrics surged from 42.51 N to 71 N, the anti‐cone stab force escalated from 33.12 N to 215 N, and the bursting strength soared from 205.34 N to 960 N. The composite material demonstrates unique advantages in complex environments with coexisting moisture, chemical corrosion, and physical impact, indicating that the developed F‐SiC/TPU composite‐coated aramid fabric exhibits remarkable potential in protective performance. This study not only provides new insights for the design of high‐performance protective materials but also offers an important reference for researchers in related fields.