Mechanically adaptive nanocomposites

Annamalai PK, Dagnon KL, Monemian S, Foster EJ, Rowan SJ, Weder C. Water-responsive mechanically adaptive nanocomposites based on styrene-butadiene rubber and cellulose nanocrystals— Processing matters. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 6(2) (2014) 967-976. 

Figure 12.4 Schematic representation of the mechanism at play in CNC-based mechanically adaptive nanocomposites. The reversible switching of the interactions among CNCs is achieved by wetting and drying, resulting in the dissociation and formation, respectively, of a percolating CNC network, concomitant with softening and stiffening of the composite.

Application of Mechanically Adaptive Nanocomposites in Cortical Implants... 

Mechanically Adaptive Nanocomposites with Other Functions... 

K. Shanmuganathan, J. R. Capadona, S. J. Rowan, and C. Weder, Bio-inspired mechanically-adaptive nanocomposites derived from cotton cellulose whiskers. J Mater Chem. 20, 180-186 (2010). 

Figure 8.11 Stiffness modification of the Cucumaria frondosa (a sea cucumber) in the presence of an external stimulus the sea cucumber is in a relaxed state (A) and when touched the stiffness ofthe dermis increases (B). In (C) is a schematic representation of the switching mechanism in the biomimetic mechanically adaptive nanocomposites. In a swell state the interactions between the NCC are switched of, while in a dry state the hydrogen bonds between NCC are switched on and a stiffer material is obtained [81]. Copyright 2008 with permission from The American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Shanmuganathan K., Capadona J.R., Rowan S.J. and Weder C. (2010), Biomimetic mechanically adaptive nanocomposites. Progress in Polymer Science, 35 pp. 212-222. 

Kazakeviciute-Makovska R, Steeb H (2013) Hierarchical architecture and modeling of bio-inspired mechanically adaptive polymer nanocomposites. In Altenbach H, Forest S, Krivtsov A (eds) Generalized continua as models for materials. Advanced structured materials, vol 22. Springer, Berlin, pp 199-215... 

J. Mendez, P. K. Annamalai, S. J. Eichhorn, R. Rush, S. J. Rowan, J. E. Foster, and C. Weder, Bioinspired Mechanically Adaptive Polymer Nanocomposites with Water-Activated Shape-Memory Effect. Macromolecules 44, 6827-6835 (2001). 

Carbon-based nanocomposite concepts have been successfully developed to limit or reduce these adverse effects and at the same time enhance the electron or ion transport [8]. CNT is an ideal building block in the carbon-inorganic composite/hybrid due to its mechanical, physical, chemical properties as mentioned above. CNTs are apparently superior to other carbonaceous materials such as graphite or amorphous carbon and are more adaptable to the homogeneous dispersion of nanoparticles than other carbonaceous materials [36],... 

Schematic illustration of mechanism for the synthesis of PE nanocomposites using dual nanofillers (MMT and silica nanoparticles). (Adapted from Wei, L. et al, /. Polym. Sci, Part A Polym. Chem., 42, 941, 2004.)...

Fig. 5 Suggested mechanism of flame retardants based in epoxy/CNT nanocomposites. Adapted [81, 95]...

Figure 12.5 D3Tiamic mechanical analysis (DMA) data of water-swollen PVAc-PBMA/CNC nanocomposites as a function of the PVAc/PBMA ratio. Upon increasing the PVAc content, the tensile modulus (a) decreases, while the loss tangent (tan 5) shifts to lower temperatures (h). The PVAc/ PBMA ratio was 100/0 (A), 60/40 (A), 40/60 (O), 20/80 ( ), 0/100 ( ). Adapted with permission from K. Shanmuganathan, J. R. Capadona, S. J. Rowan and C. WeAer,ACSAppl. Mater. Interfaces, 2010, 2,165-174, Copyright 2009 American Chemical Society.

---