Abstract
We describe how the mechanical properties of natural fibre composites can be improved by precipitating coral-like coatings to the surfaces of reinforcing fibres. We consider three amino-acid templates (L-lysine, glycine and beta-alanine) on calcium carbonate growth to natural fibres. L-Lysine forms reticulate flower-like crystals, beta-alanine forms globular crystals and glycine forms blocky crystals. These coralised fibres are used to reinforce styrene butadiene rubber and when compared against untreated-fibre reinforced composites; we find that at sufficiently high concentrations L-lysine templated mineral coatings improve composite strength by more than 100%. Contrarily, beta-alanine and glycine templated mineral coatings do not improve the composite strength by more than ca. 60% and ca. 40% respectively. Molecular dynamics simulations elucidate the attachment mechanisms for each amino acid and the highest potential is in the L-lysine templated crystals. Finite element analyses reveal the success of L-lysine templated coatings is due to a heightened fibre tractive resistance.
Original language | Undefined/Unknown |
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Pages (from-to) | 84–88 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing |
Volume | 75 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2015 |
MoE publication type | A1 Journal article-refereed |
Keywords
- Fibre/matrix bond
- Fibres
- Polymer-matrix composites (PMCs)