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Stiffness Enhancement in Nacre-Inspired Nanocomposites due to Nanoconfinement.

ABSTRACT: Layered assemblies of polymers and graphene derivatives employ nacre's tested strategy of intercalating soft organic layers with hard crystalline domains. These layered systems commonly display elastic properties that exceed simple mixture rule predictions, but the molecular origins of this phenomenon are not well understood. Here we address this issue by quantifying the elastic behavior of nanoconfined polymer layers on a model layered graphene-polymer nanocomposite. Using a novel, validated coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulation approach, here we clearly show that the elastic properties of layered nanocomposites cannot be described by volume fraction considerations alone and depend strongly on both interfacial energy and nanostructure. We quantify the relative importance of polymer nanoconfinement and interfacial energy on polymer structure and elasticity, and illustrate the validity of our model for two polymers with different intrinsic elastic properties. Our theoretical model culminates in phase diagrams that accurately predict the elastic response of nacre-inspired nanocomposites by accounting for all material design parameters. Our findings provide widely applicable prescriptive guidelines for utilizing nanoconfinement to improve the mechanical properties of layer-by-layer nanocomposites. Our findings also serve to explain why the elastic properties of organic layers in nacre exhibit multifold differences from the native and extracted states.

SUBMITTER: Shao C

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4653650 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Stiffness Enhancement in Nacre-Inspired Nanocomposites due to Nanoconfinement.

Shao Chen C Keten Sinan S

Scientific reports 20151120

Layered assemblies of polymers and graphene derivatives employ nacre's tested strategy of intercalating soft organic layers with hard crystalline domains. These layered systems commonly display elastic properties that exceed simple mixture rule predictions, but the molecular origins of this phenomenon are not well understood. Here we address this issue by quantifying the elastic behavior of nanoconfined polymer layers on a model layered graphene-polymer nanocomposite. Using a novel, validated co ...[more]

PMID: 26584872

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Project description:Ceramic materials possessing the properties of high-strength and rigidity are widely used in industry. The shell nacre has a layered structure containing both macroscopic and microscopic levels and is equipped with superior qualities regarding hardness and strength. Therefore, the ceramic composites with a nacre-like layered structure have the potential to be utilized as sliding bearings employed in the harsh conditions of wells. For the purpose of this paper, a porous Al?O? ceramics skeleton with nanometer powder is prepared using the freeze-casting method. Then the porous ceramic skeleton is filled with polymer polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) through mass polymerization to produce a bionic Al?O?/PMMA composite with a lamellar structure. The properties of the prepared composite are determined by the analysis of micro-hardness, fracture toughness, friction coefficient, wear scar diameter, and the morphology of the worn surface. Consequent results indicate that elevation in the A1?O? powder, which acts as the initial solid phase content, prompts the ceramic slurry to exhibit an increase in viscosity and a gradual decrease in the pore size of the ceramic skeleton. The prepared layered Al?O?/PMMA composite possesses high fracture toughness, which closely resembles that of Al, is approximately four times that of the matrix of the Al?O? ceramics and 16 times that of the PMMA. Three kinds of composites containing different solid phase content are subjected to testing involving lubrication by water-based drilling fluid to determine the friction coefficient of each. The results indicate that an increased load leads to a decreased friction coefficient while the impact of speed is not evident. Under dry conditions, the friction coefficient of three different composites tested, declines with elevated load and speed. With the use of water-based drilling fluid as lubrication, the wear scar diameter increases at higher speed, while dry conditions denote increased load. Abrasive wear is determined to be the principal form of erosion of layered Al?O?/PMMA composites.

Dataset Information

Stiffness Enhancement in Nacre-Inspired Nanocomposites due to Nanoconfinement.

Publications

Stiffness Enhancement in Nacre-Inspired Nanocomposites due to Nanoconfinement.

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