贝壳珍珠母增韧机理研究进展

基于国内外对贝壳材料微结构研究的实验照片与力学性能的研究成果,描述了贝壳珍珠母独特的微观结构,包括无机层与有机基质层"砖-泥"式交错层叠结构、文石层波纹表面和文石表面纳米凸起与矿物桥结构等,同时也揭示了贝壳珍珠母微结构对其韧性的增强机理。对国内力学家近年来提出的微观结构"缺陷不敏感"增韧理论进行了理论阐述。     

中国科大利用仿生方法成功合成人工珍珠母

正贝壳珍珠母是当今世界仿生材料设计研究中的热点。中国研究人员近日在美国《科学》杂志网络版上报告说,他们参照软体动物合成天然珍珠母的策略,利用完全仿生的方法制备出组分、结构和性能均与天然类似的人工珍珠母。自然界中,生命体系通常利用能大量获取的原料不断优化其微观结构,来提升其体内硬质复合材料的力学性能。而材料仿生设计研究,便是通过学习这种独特的微观结构,并结合人工合成的物质,来获得性能远远超越常规材料的     

贝壳珍珠层及其仿生应用

综述了贝壳珍珠层结构及其文石晶体的结晶学取向特征，并概述了珍珠层中参与调控生物矿化的有机基质的结构和功能方面的最新研究进展。从裂纹偏转、纤维拔出、有机基质桥连及矿物桥的作用等方面对珍珠层的高韧性机制进行了讨论。同时介绍了珍珠层的微结构特征及其特殊的组装方式在仿生材料制备方面的应用。     

原位聚合法制备尼龙66/蒙脱土纳米复合材料及其性能

采用原位聚合法制备了尼龙66/有机蒙脱土纳米复合材料,利用TEM观察了复合材料的微观结构,测试了其力学性能、热稳定性和阻燃性能,探讨了复合材料结构与性能之间的关系。研究结果表明:蒙脱土以纳米尺度均匀分散在尼龙66基体中,蒙脱土的加入改善了材料的力学性能、热稳定性和阻燃性能。     

三角帆蚌贝壳的微结构及尺寸变化特征

天然生物经历了亿万年的不断进化,已经形成了近乎完美的结构。天然生物材料结构的研究是仿生研究的基础,本文以三角帆蚌贝壳为研究对象,利用SEM和AFM,描述了三角帆蚌贝壳的微结构特征,包括其角质层、棱柱层、珍珠层及界面和晶带的形貌,揭示文石晶片及各层间的尺寸变化规律。研究表明:角质层内部分布大量裂纹,珍珠层与棱柱层无明显过渡界面,珍珠层内发现条状晶带结构缺陷;贝壳壳体和珍珠层厚度随0生长线向外呈现先增大后减小的变化趋势,且单层文石晶片的厚度不均,最厚处可达最薄处的2倍多。对三角帆蚌贝壳的结构进行了深入研究,为其优异的力学性能提供了理论依据,为未来的仿生结构设计提供了新思路和新想法。      

金属层状复合材料的力学行为及微观变形机理

金属层状复合材料作为一种典型的非均质材料,通过调控其内部的多尺度微结构特性,可以实现金属结构材料强度-韧性的协同提升,在高端先进制造领域具有潜在的应用前景。金属层状复合材料的宏观力学性能显著依赖于各组元层的性能、厚度和异质界面的结构特性。变形过程中材料内部的微观应力/应变在异质界面处的协调特性对组元金属的形变微观机制产生重要影响,进而影响复合材料整体的性能。因此,探索金属层状复合材料的“微观结构-力学行为-变形机制-宏观力学性能”的内在关联并揭示其对应的微观形变机理,对设计具有优异综合力学性能的金属层状复合材料有重要的理论指导意义和实际应用价值。聚焦于晶态金属层状复合材料的微观力学行为及变形机理,介绍了其力学行为的尺寸与界面效应,着重讨论了室温下材料的微观形变物理过程,阐明了非均匀金属层状复合体强韧化的机理。最后,对金属层状复合材料力学行为的研究进行了简要展望。     

生物活性羟基磷灰石/二元氨基酸共聚物复合材料的制备和性能

通过原位聚合法制备新型生物活性羟基磷灰石/二元氨基酸共聚物(BHA/PAA)复合材料。采用1 H核磁共振(1 H NMR)、红外光谱(IR)、X-ray衍射光谱(XRD)、X射线光电子能谱(XPS)、扫描电镜(SEM)和差示扫描量热分析(DSC)对其组成结构、热性能、力学性能和体外降解性能进行研究。结果表明:BHA颗粒均匀分散在PAA基质中,形成的复合材料具有良好的均一性;复合材料的无机相和有机相之间存在着一定的化学键相互作用;由于BHA的引入,复合材料的结晶速率加快,整体结晶度下降;复合材料具有良好的力学性能,其抗压强度随着BHA含量的增加而明显提高,抗弯强度略有减小,当BHA含量为30%(质量分数)时,复合材料的抗压强度和抗弯强度分别为141.02MPa和86.32MPa,力学性能与人体皮质骨相匹配;体外降解实验结果表明,随着BHA含量的增加,材料的降解速率加快,且在降解过程中保持良好的力学性能稳定性,在骨修复方面具有潜在的应用。     

三维编织复合材料的弯曲和压缩性能探讨研究

对四步法三维编织结构增强树脂复合材料的弯曲,压缩性能进行了实验研究,获得了该材料的主要力学性能参数及变形,破坏规律,结果表明,三维编织复合材料具有良好的力学性能,编织结构及复合材料性能有较大的影响,这些结果为进一步研究编织复合材料的强度失效问题奠定了试验基础。     

香螺壳的结构和微观力学性能

测量产自黄/渤海海域的香螺贝壳的硬度和弹性模量,研究了贝壳的结构与性能之间的关系.结果表明,香螺贝壳主要由方解石和文石两种矿物镶嵌在有机质中构成,方解石结构为不均匀的柱状晶,文石结构为多级超微的交错纹状结构,其中第三级结构为10-80 nm的纳米级纤维.文石的力学性能优于方解石的性能.贝壳类复合材料的压痕效应主要源于裂纹扩展,而微观裂纹扩展与晶体类型以及晶体结构的排列方式是密切相关的.方解石裂纹形状曲折、不规则且沿着方解石层的边界扩展,抗裂纹扩展能力较差;而文石压痕周围平直清晰,裂纹沿着其二级结构界面扩展,性能较好.     

轿车地毯复合材料高温拉伸性能研究

对轿车用针刺地毯复合材料进行了高温力学性能研究,探讨了地毯材料结构与其高温力学性能间的关系。根据材料整体以及毯坯层拉伸曲线的分析结果表明,针刺地毯复合材料的极限强度随温度上升而减小,极限伸长随温度上升而增加。材料整体的性能是毯坯层和背胶层共同作用的结果,背胶层使材料的力学性能变得均匀,毯坯层的强度决定了材料整体的力学强度。不同温度条件下,毯坯层和背胶层对材料变形的影响权重不同。     

Toughening mechanisms in bioinspired multilayered materials

Outstanding mechanical properties of biological multilayered materials are strongly influenced by nanoscale features in their structure. In this study, mechanical behaviour and toughening mechanisms of abalone nacre-inspired multilayered materials are explored. In nacre''s structure, the organic matrix, pillars and the roughness of the aragonite platelets play important roles in its overall mechanical performance. A micromechanical model for multilayered biological materials is proposed to simulate their mechanical deformation and toughening mechanisms. The fundamental hypothesis of the model is the inclusion of nanoscale pillars with near theoretical strength (σ_th ~ E/30). It is also assumed that pillars and asperities confine the organic matrix to the proximity of the platelets, and, hence, increase their stiffness, since it has been previously shown that the organic matrix behaves more stiffly in the proximity of mineral platelets. The modelling results are in excellent agreement with the available experimental data for abalone nacre. The results demonstrate that the aragonite platelets, pillars and organic matrix synergistically affect the stiffness of nacre, and the pillars significantly contribute to the mechanical performance of nacre. It is also shown that the roughness induced interactions between the organic matrix and aragonite platelet, represented in the model by asperity elements, play a key role in strength and toughness of abalone nacre. The highly nonlinear behaviour of the proposed multilayered material is the result of distributed deformation in the nacre-like structure due to the existence of nano-asperities and nanopillars with near theoretical strength. Finally, tensile toughness is studied as a function of the components in the microstructure of nacre.     

Why is nacre so tough and strong?

In this paper we describe the details of simulations conducted on three-dimensional finite element models of nacre integrated with experiments. This work gives an overview of modeling mechanical behavior in nacre and quantitatively elucidates the specific role of many details of structure in nacre on the stress–strain response. We describe the role of each of the details of nanostructure on the mechanics and deformation behavior of nacre as well as identify the key mechanisms responsible for the unique mechanical behavior of nacre. Nanoscale asperities and mineral contacts have marginal role on mechanical response of nacre and platelet interlocks have a significant role on deformation in nacre. We describe the key strengthening and toughening mechanisms in nacre as:

• 1.Material properties of aragonite and organic matrix, especially the unique properties of the organic phase in the confined space between platelets.
• 2.Structure at micro scale: size, shape of platelets etc.
• 3.Interlocking of aragonite platelets: progressive failure of interlocks guides the fracture path.
• 4.Molecular interactions at the organic–inorganic interface.

     

The toughening mechanism of nacre and structural materials inspired by nacre

Abstract

The structure and the toughening mechanism of nacre have been the subject of intensive research over the last 30 years. This interest originates from nacre’s excellent combination of strength, stiffness and toughness, despite its high, for a biological material, volume fraction of inorganic phase, typically 95%. Owing to the improvement of nanoscale measurement and observation techniques, significant progress has been made during the last decade in understanding the mechanical properties of nacre. The structure, microscopic deformation behavior and toughening mechanism on the order of nanometers have been investigated, and the importance of hierarchical structure in nacre has been recognized. This research has led to the fabrication of multilayer composites and films inspired by nacre with a layer thickness below 1 μm. Some of these materials reproduce the inorganic/organic interaction and hierarchical structure beyond mere morphology mimicking. In the first part of this review, we focus on the hierarchical architecture, macroscopic and microscopic deformation and fracture behavior, as well as toughening mechanisms in nacre. Then we summarize recent progress in the fabrication of materials inspired by nacre taking into consideration its mechanical properties.     

Effect of reinforcement surface functionalization on the mechanical properties of nacre-like bulk lamellar composites processed by a hybrid conventional method

Alumina platelet reinforced epoxy matrix composites with an architecture resembling to natural nacre were fabricated by a hybrid conventional method called Hot-press Assisted Slip Casting process (HASC). Correlation between processing parameters, platelet content, platelet orientation and mechanical property enhancement of the fabricated composites was examined. In order to investigate the effect of interfacial compatibility and bonding on the mechanical properties of the fabricated inorganic–organic composites, platelet surfaces were modified with both epoxy- and amino-functional silanes. As received and functionalized platelet surfaces were studied by X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) to confirm the success of surface modification. Fabricated bio-inspired bulk lamellar composite materials were characterized in terms of their microstructural architecture and mechanical properties. The results obtained indicated that HASC processed composites exhibit enhanced flexural strength, stiffness and hardness, as compared to neat epoxy and composites fabricated by simple mixing, as a result of their nacre-like architecture with well aligned platelets. It has been also observed that functionalization by both type of silanes improves interfacial adhesion between platelets and epoxy matrix resulting in further enhancement of the mechanical properties of bulk lamellar composites fabricated by HASC.     

Mechanical properties of the elemental nanocomponents of nacre structure

Sheet nacre is a nanocomposite with a multiscale structure displaying a lamellar “bricks and mortar” microarchitecture. In this latter, the brick refer to aragonite platelets and the mortar to a soft organic biopolymer. However, it appears that each brick is also a nanocomposite constituted as CaCO₃ nanoparticles reinforced organic composite material. What is the role of this “intracrystalline” organic phase in the deformation of platelet? How does this nanostructure control the mechanical behaviour of sheet nacre at the macroscale? To answer these questions, the mechanical properties of each nanocomponents are successively investigated and computed using spherical and sharp nanoindentation tests combined with a structural model of the organomineral platelets built from AFM investigations.     

Micromechanical model of nacre tested in tension

A modified shear lag theory is used to model the tensile behavior of Pinctada nacre. A two-dimensional model is used to analyze the stress transfer between the aragonite platelets of nacre assuming that the ends of the platelet are not bonded with the organic matrix. Elastic-perfectly plastic behavior of the organic matrix is assumed. A model for stress transfer between the platelets when the matrix between the platelets starts behaving plastically is developed. It is assumed that nacre fails when the matrix breaks after the ultimate shear strain in the matrix is exceeded. This theory can be used to model the stress transfer in platelet reinforced composites at high volume fractions.     

A new composite designed to resist wear

Nacre is known for its superior mechanical properties due to its uniquely interlocked-layered structures. In this study, a new composite containing nacre in an Al matrix was fabricated. The composite was produced using powder metallurgy method followed by a heat treatment. Mechanical properties were tested using SEM, micro hardness tester and profilometer. Results showed that the hardness of the composites increased as the concentration of nacre increased in the composite. The hardness of a composite containing 20 wt% of nacre increased by 40% compared to pure Al. Tribological evaluation indicates that samples with 1 wt% and 5 wt% of nacre exhibited the best wear resistance. The wear mechanism changed from adhesive to abrasive wear with varying concentration of nacre. This research demonstrates that the design of mechanical properties and the control of wear mechanisms is possible through the optimization of hybrid configuration. This approach can be adapted to most conventional materials.     

On flaw tolerance of nacre: a theoretical study

As a natural composite, nacre has an elegant staggered ‘brick-and-mortar’ microstructure consisting of mineral platelets glued by organic macromolecules, which endows the material with superior mechanical properties to achieve its biological functions. In this paper, a microstructure-based crack-bridging model is employed to investigate how the strength of nacre is affected by pre-existing structural defects. Our analysis demonstrates that owing to its special microstructure and the toughening effect of platelets, nacre has a superior flaw-tolerance feature. The maximal crack size that does not evidently reduce the tensile strength of nacre is up to tens of micrometres, about three orders higher than that of pure aragonite. Through dimensional analysis, a non-dimensional parameter is proposed to quantify the flaw-tolerance ability of nacreous materials in a wide range of structural parameters. This study provides us some inspirations for optimal design of advanced biomimetic composites.     

Nanostructured interfaces for enhancing mechanical properties of composites: Computational micromechanical studies

Computational micromechanical studies of the effect of nanostructuring and nanoengineering of interfaces, phase and grain boundaries of materials on the mechanical properties and strength of materials and the potential of interface nanostructuring to enhance the materials properties are reviewed. Several groups of materials (composites, nanocomposites, nanocrystalline metals, wood) are considered with view on the effect of nanostructured interfaces on their properties. The structures of various nanostructured interfaces (protein structures and mineral bridges in biopolymers in nacre and microfibrils in wood; pores, interphases and nanoparticles in fiber/matrix interfaces of polymer fiber reinforced composites and nanocomposites; dislocations and precipitates in grain boundaries of nanocrystalline metals) and the methods of their modeling are discussed. It is concluded that nanostructuring of interfaces and phase boundaries is a powerful tool for controlling the material deformation and strength behavior, and allows to enhance the mechanical properties and strength of the materials. Heterogeneous interfaces, with low stiffness leading to the localization of deformation, and nanoreinforcements oriented normally to the main reinforcing elements can ensure the highest damage resistance of materials.     

A Hydrogel‐Film Casting to Fabricate Platelet‐Reinforced Polymer Composite Films Exhibiting Superior Mechanical Properties

The fabrication of mechanically superior polymer composite films with controllable shapes on various scales is difficult. Despite recent research on polymer composites consisting of organic matrices and inorganic materials with layered structures, these films suffer from complex preparations and limited mechanical properties that do not have even integration of high strength, stiffness, and toughness. Herein, a hydrogel‐film casting approach to achieve fabrication of simultaneously strong, stiff, and tough polymer composite films with well‐defined microstructure, inspired from a layer‐by‐layer structure of nacre is reported. Ca²⁺‐crosslinked alginate hydrogels incorporated with platelet‐like alumina particles are dried to form composite films composed of horizontally aligned alumina platelets and alginate matrix with uniformly layered microstructure. Alumina platelets are evenly distributed parallel without precipitations and contribute to synergistic enhancements of strength, stiffness and toughness in the resultant film. Consequentially, Ca²⁺‐crosslinked alginate/alumina (Ca²⁺‐Alg/Alu) films show exceptional tensile strength (267 MPa), modulus (17.9 GPa), and toughness (3.60 MJ m⁻³). Furthermore, the hydrogel‐film casting allows facile preparation of polymer composite films with controllable shapes and various scales. The results suggest an alternative approach to design and prepare polymer composites with the layer‐by‐layer structure for superior mechanical properties.