초록 |
Reinforced polymer composites have received attention due to high specific mechanical properties. Particulates or fibers as a reinforcement are widely used to improve the mechanical properties; however, the stiffness and toughness of the composite is still mutually exclusive. In our study, we suggest a way to achieve a combination of high mechanical properties (strength, stiffness, and toughness) for polymer composites by applying a design principle of nacre in a seashell. Nacre composed of a soft polymer matrix and stiff inorganic microplatelets (microsized tablets) in a layered structure shows unique fracture mechanisms such as an effective load transfer and fracture-resistance through a platelet pull-out and multiple cracking under tension. Inspired from that, we fabricated structural polymer composites reinforced with layered microplatelets. The composite showed well-balanced mechanical properties and outstanding fracture resistance with multiple cracking mechanism. |