Bioinspired Impact-Resistant and Self-Monitoring Nanofibrous Composites |
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Authors: | Zhen-Bang Zhang ZeZhou He Xiao-Feng Pan Huai-Ling Gao Si-Ming Chen YinBo Zhu Saisai Cao Chunyu Zhao Shuang Wu Xinglong Gong HengAn Wu Shu-Hong Yu |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Chemistry, Institute of Biomimetic Materials & Chemistry, Anhui Engineering Laboratory of Biomimetic Materials, Division of Nanomaterials & Chemistry, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026 China;2. CAS Key Laboratory of Mechanical Behavior and Design of Materials, Department of Modern Mechanics, CAS Center for Excellence in Complex System Mechanics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, 230027 China |
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Abstract: | Lightweight and impact-resistant materials with self-monitoring capability are highly desired for protective applications, but are challenging to be artificially fabricated. Herein, a scalable-manufactured aramid nanofiber (ANF)-based composite combining these key properties is presented. Inspired by the strengthening and toughening mechanisms relying on recoverable interfaces commonly existing in biological composites, mechanically weak but dense hydrogen bonds are introduced into the ANF interfaces to achieve simultaneously enhanced tensile strength (300 MPa), toughness (55 MJ m−3), and impact resistance of the nanofibrous composite. The achieved mechanical property combination displays attractive advantages compared with that of most of previously reported nanocomposites. Additionally, the nanofibrous composite is designed with a capability for real-time self-monitoring of its structural safety during both quasi-static tensile and dynamic impact processes, based on the strain/damage-induced resistance variations of a conductive nanowire network inside it. These comprehensive properties enable the present nanofibrous composite with promising potential for protective applications. |
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Keywords: | aramid nanofibers bioinspiration impact-resistance nanofibrous composite self-monitoring capability |
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