Enhancing Composite Toughness Through Hierarchical Interphase Formation.
Adv Sci (Weinh)
; 11(6): e2305642, 2024 Feb.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38145356
ABSTRACT
High strength and ductility are highly desired in fiber-reinforced composites, yet achieving both simultaneously remains elusive. A hierarchical architecture is developed utilizing high aspect ratio chemically transformable thermoplastic nanofibers that form covalent bonding with the matrix to toughen the fiber-matrix interphase. The nanoscale fibers are electrospun on the micrometer-scale reinforcing carbon fiber, creating a physically intertwined, randomly oriented scaffold. Unlike conventional covalent bonding of matrix molecules with reinforcing fibers, here, the nanofiber scaffold is utilized - interacting non-covalently with core fiber but bridging covalently with polymer matrix - to create a high volume fraction of immobilized matrix or interphase around core reinforcing elements. This mechanism enables efficient fiber-matrix stress transfer and enhances composite toughness. Molecular dynamics simulation reveals enhancement of the fiber-matrix adhesion facilitated by nanofiber-aided hierarchical bonding with the matrix. The elastic modulus contours of interphase regions obtained from atomic force microscopy clearly indicate the formation of stiffer interphase. These nanoengineered composites exhibit a ≈60% and ≈100% improved in-plane shear strength and toughness, respectively. This approach opens a new avenue for manufacturing toughened high-performance composites.
Texto completo:
1
Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Adv Sci (Weinh)
Año:
2024
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Estados Unidos
Pais de publicación:
Alemania