Enhancing Composite Toughness Through Hierarchical Interphase Formation

Gupta, Sumit; Sohail, Tanvir; Checa Nualart, Marti; Rohewal, Sargun Singh; Toomey, Michael D.; Kanbargi, Nihal; Damron, Joshua T.; Collins, Liam; Kearney, Logan T.; Naskar, Amit K.; Bowland, Christopher C.

doi:10.1002/advs.202305642

Enhancing Composite Toughness Through Hierarchical Interphase Formation

Journal Article · Mon Dec 25 00:00:00 EST 2023 · Advanced Science

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202305642· OSTI ID:2267636

^[1]; Sohail, Tanvir ^[2]; ^[3]; Rohewal, Sargun Singh ^[1]; Toomey, Michael D. ^[1]; Kanbargi, Nihal ^[1]; Damron, Joshua T. ^[1]; ^[3]; Kearney, Logan T. ^[1]; ^[1]; ^[1]

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). National Center for Computational Sciences (NCCS)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences (CNMS)

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.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Center for Nanophase Materials Sciences (CNMS); Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Compute and Data Environment for Science (CADES)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Office of Sustainable Transportation. Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO); USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Materials Sciences & Engineering Division (MSE)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-00OR22725

OSTI ID:: 2267636

Journal Information:: Advanced Science, Journal Name: Advanced Science Journal Issue: 6 Vol. 11; ISSN 2198-3844

Publisher:: WileyCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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Enhancing Composite Toughness Through Hierarchical Interphase Formation

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