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Quantifying the role of mineral bridges on the fracture resistance of nacre-like composites.

ABSTRACT: The nacreous layer of mollusk shells holds design concepts that can effectively enhance the fracture resistance of lightweight brittle materials. Mineral bridges are known to increase the fracture resistance of nacre-inspired materials, but their role is difficult to quantify due to the lack of experimental systems where only this parameter is controllably varied. In this study, we fabricate tunable nacre-like composites that are used as a model to experimentally quantify the influence of the density of mineral bridges alone on the fracture properties of nacre-like architectures. The composites exhibit a brick-and-mortar architecture comprising highly aligned alumina platelets that are interconnected by titania mineral bridges and infiltrated by an epoxy organic phase. By combining experimental mechanical data with image analysis of such composite microstructures, an analytical model is put forward based on a simple balance of forces acting on an individual bridged platelet. Based on this model, we predict the flexural strength of the nacre-like composite to scale linearly with the density of mineral bridges, as long as the mineral interconnectivity is low enough to keep fracture in a platelet pullout mode. Increasing the mineral interconnectivity beyond this limit leads to platelet fracture and catastrophic failure of the composite. This structure-property correlation provides powerful quantitative guidelines for the design of lightweight brittle materials with enhanced fracture resistance. We illustrate this potential by fabricating nacre-like bulk composites with unparalleled flexural strength combined with noncatastrophic failure.

SUBMITTER: Grossman M

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6294942 | biostudies-literature |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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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.

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Quantifying the role of mineral bridges on the fracture resistance of nacre-like composites.

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