FRG: Bioinspired Synthesis of Tough Laminates

技术：鲍鱼壳坚韧，耐断裂。该结构采用砖和砂浆结构，碳酸钙(文石)砖被有机砂浆包围。这种韧性归因于文石片层的有序排列和矿物/有机界面上存在的纳米级特征。这些纳米尺度的特征包括矿物桥、文石瓷砖表面的纳米粗糙度以及有机材料的粘弹性/粘附性。这项工作的主要目标是制作陶瓷/聚合物模型层合板，识别和量化被归因于壳体增韧的微结构特征的贡献。这项工作有望带来一种新型的生物灵感复合材料，这种材料具有坚固、坚硬和抗骨折的特点。学生将在生物、材料科学和纳米科学方面进行交叉培训。非技术描述：生物灵感材料正在成为一种新的合成结构。鲍鱼壳很坚韧，耐断裂，尽管它是由微弱的成分构成的：有机物和一种软矿物(陶瓷)。在放大的情况下，贝壳有一个由矿物砖和有机砂浆组成的“砖瓦”结构。基于这种结构的仿生合成层状材料有望具有优异的韧性和抗断裂性能。复制鲍鱼壳结构的层状有机(聚合物)/陶瓷结构的制备和测试是研究的主要重点。这项工作有望带来一种新的复合材料，这种材料既坚固、坚硬，又耐断裂。研究生、本科生和高中生将接受生物学、材料科学和纳米科学的交叉培训。将在课程中引入新的课程，并向代表不足的学生群体进行宣传是这一项目的一部分。

TECHNICAL: Abalone shell is tough and fracture resistant. The structure has a brick-and-mortar organization with calcium carbonate (aragonite) bricks surrounded by the organic mortar. The toughness is attributed to the organized arrangement of the aragonite platelets and nanoscale features present at the mineral/organic interface. These nanoscale features include mineral bridges, nanoasperities on the surface of the aragonite tiles and the viscoelastic/adhesive properties of the organic. The main objectives of this work are to fabricate model ceramic/polymer laminates, identify and quantify the contributions of microstructural features that have been attributed to the toughening of the shell. This work is expected to lead to a new class of bioinspired composite materials that are strong, hard and fracture resistant. Students will be cross-trained in biology, materials science and nanoscience.NON-TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Bioinspired materials are emerging as a new class of synthetic structures. The abalone shell is tough and fracture resistant, despite being built from weak constituents: organic matter and a soft mineral (ceramic). Under magnification, the shell has a "brick-and-mortar" structure of mineral bricks and organic mortar. Bioinspired synthetic layered materials based on this structure are expected to have exceptional toughness and fracture resistance. Fabrication and testing of layered organic (polymer) / ceramic structures that duplicate the structure of the abalone shell is the main focus of research. This work is expected to lead to a new class of composite materials that are strong, hard and fracture resistant. Graduate, undergraduate and high school students will be cross-trained in biology, materials science and nanoscience. New classes will be introduced into the curriculum and outreach to underrepresented student populations is a part of this project.