Recent progress in interfacial toughening and damage self-healing of polymer composites based on electrospun and solution-blown nanofibers: An overview

Xiang Fa Wu, Alexander L. Yarin

    Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

    81 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    In this article, we provide an overview of recent progress in toughening and damage self-healing of polymer-matrix composites (PMCs) reinforced with electrospun nanofibers at interfaces with an emphasis on the innovative processing techniques and toughening and damage self-healing characterization. Because of their in-plane fiber architecture and layered structure, high-performance laminated PMCs typically carry low interfacial strengths and interlaminar fracture toughnesses in contrast to their very high in-plane mechanical properties. Delamination is commonly observed in these composite structures. Continuous polymer and polymer-derived carbon nanofibers produced by electrospinning, solution blowing, and other recently developed techniques can be incorporated into the ultrathin resin-rich interlayers (with thicknesses of a few to dozens of micrometers) of these high-performance PMCs to form nanofiber-reinforced interlayers with enhanced interlaminar fracture toughnesses. When incorporated with core-shell healing-agent-loaded nanofibers, these nanofiber-richened interlayers can yield unique interfacial damage self-healing. Recent experimental investigations in these topics are reviewed and compared, and recently developed techniques for the scalable, continuous fabrication of advanced nanofibers for interfacial toughening and damage self-healing of PMCs are given. Developments in the near future in this field are predicted.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)2225-2237
    Number of pages13
    JournalJournal of Applied Polymer Science
    Volume130
    Issue number4
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2013 Nov 15

    Keywords

    • composites
    • electrospinning
    • fibers
    • mechanical properties
    • nanostructured polymers

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • General Chemistry
    • Surfaces, Coatings and Films
    • Polymers and Plastics
    • Materials Chemistry

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