Nanowire Interfaces for Composites with High Strength Across Strain Rates

该奖项的研究目标是研究聚合物纤维增强复合材料中的纳米结构界面，以便可以设计出具有结构和弹道性能的轻质材料。 为了实现这一目标，将在纤维表面上生长由ZnO纳米线组成的纳米结构界面。 纳米线生长过程是高度可控的，并且用于增强基质和纤维之间的载荷传递并提供平面外增强。 可控的纳米线生长提供了用于优化界面性质的手段，使得可以在高应变速率和低应变速率下获得理想的材料响应。 最佳界面将通过一系列实验测试和分子动力学模拟进行设计，在这项研究工作中，提供一个基本的理解如何纳米结构的接口进行负载，以及它如何在高和低应变率失败。 研究结果将用于阐明其他潜在的材料，以进一步提高强度。该奖项的更广泛影响集中在更好地理解复合材料中的界面。 具体而言，该奖项将确定一种定义纳米级界面与散装复合材料性能之间关系的理论，以及第一种轻质多功能材料，该材料具有优异的承载性能和抗爆炸性。 研究结果将用于阐明其他潜在的材料，以进一步提高该技术的强度和应用。 此外，对具有纳米结构界面的材料之间的相互作用以及纳米材料的性质如何转化为本体的更好理解可能会导致碳纤维复合材料或纤维增强陶瓷和金属的界面性能的改善。

The research objective of this award is to study nanostructured interfaces in polymer fiber reinforced composites such that lightweight materials can be designed for both structural and ballistic performance. To achieve this objective a nanostructured interface consisting of ZnO nanowires will be grown on the fiber surface. The nanowire growth process is highly controllable and acts to enhance the load transfer between the matrix and fiber and provide out of plane reinforcement. The controllable nanowire growth provides a means for optimizing the interfacial properties such that an ideal material response can be obtained at both high and low strain rates. The optimal interface will be designed through a series of experimental tests and molecular dynamics simulations performed under this research effort to provide a fundamental understanding of how a nanostructured interface carries load and how it fails at both high and low strain rates. The findings will be used to illuminate other potential materials for further gains in strength.The broader impacts of this this award focus on creating a better understanding of interfaces in composite materials. Specifically, the award will identify a theory defining the relation between a nanoscale interface and the bulk composite properties and a first of its kind lightweight multifunctional material that provides excellent loading bearing properties and blast resistance. The findings will be used to illuminate other potential materials for further gains in strength and applications for the technology. Additionally, Improved understanding of the interaction between materials with a nanostructured interfaces and how the properties of nanomaterials translate to the bulk could lead to improved interfacial performance in carbon fiber composites or fiber reinforced ceramics and metals.