Cross‐Scale Interface Engineering for Fabricating Super‐Strong and Super‐Tough Aramid nanofiber film

Abstract Poly (p‐phenylene terephthalamide) (PPTA), known for its exceptional mechanical properties under the brand name Kevlar, finds extensive use in high‐performance applications despite the challenges it presents in processing and integration with other materials. Existing top–down methods for preparing PPTA composites result in significantly reduced strength (<200 MPa) and toughness (<10 MJ·m − 3 ) due to insufficient interfacial interactions, limiting their application. Here, a cross‐scale interface engineering strategy is reported for fabricating super‐strong and super‐tough PPTA composite films. At the microscale, a synergistic crosslinking strategy of physical entanglement and hydrogen bonding to crosslink PPTA nanofibers is employed. At the macroscale, the network using a cyclic freeze–thaw and the stretch‐drying method is reinforced. The PPTA nanofiber composite film is super‐strong (854.6 MPa), super‐tough (106.2 MJ·m − 3 ), and has a high‐temperature resistance (300 °C). Moreover, the bottom–up approach enables the direct synthesis of PPTA nanofibers, significantly reducing the preparation time from 7 days to 0.5 h. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the composite film can be integrated into a robust and intelligent sensing‐display device that responds to external mechanical and heat injuries for firefighter's protection. This work provides an efficient strategy for fabricating high‐performance PPTA composites, paving the way for their practical use as durable protective materials.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Advanced Functional Materials
Published
2024-10-18
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/adfm.202416511
Citations
14
Primary Topic
Fiber-reinforced polymer composites
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
2.98

Funders

Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Cross‐Scale Interface Engineering for Fabricating Super‐Strong and Super‐Tough Aramid nanofiber film

Xun‐En Wu, Yida Wang, Huarun Liang, Mei Zou et al.
14 citations
Advanced Functional Materials
Fiber-reinforced polymer composites
2.98
article

Cross‐Scale Interface Engineering for Fabricating Super‐Strong and Super‐Tough Aramid nanofiber film

Xun‐En Wu, Yida Wang, Huarun Liang, Mei Zou, Jiali Niu, Jiongke Jin, Yingying Zhang
article en
14 citations

Abstract

Abstract Poly (p‐phenylene terephthalamide) (PPTA), known for its exceptional mechanical properties under the brand name Kevlar, finds extensive use in high‐performance applications despite the challenges it presents in processing and integration with other materials. Existing top–down methods for preparing PPTA composites result in significantly reduced strength (<200 MPa) and toughness (<10 MJ·m − 3 ) due to insufficient interfacial interactions, limiting their application. Here, a cross‐scale interface engineering strategy is reported for fabricating super‐strong and super‐tough PPTA composite films. At the microscale, a synergistic crosslinking strategy of physical entanglement and hydrogen bonding to crosslink PPTA nanofibers is employed. At the macroscale, the network using a cyclic freeze–thaw and the stretch‐drying method is reinforced. The PPTA nanofiber composite film is super‐strong (854.6 MPa), super‐tough (106.2 MJ·m − 3 ), and has a high‐temperature resistance (300 °C). Moreover, the bottom–up approach enables the direct synthesis of PPTA nanofibers, significantly reducing the preparation time from 7 days to 0.5 h. Furthermore, it is demonstrated that the composite film can be integrated into a robust and intelligent sensing‐display device that responds to external mechanical and heat injuries for firefighter's protection. This work provides an efficient strategy for fabricating high‐performance PPTA composites, paving the way for their practical use as durable protective materials.

Advanced Functional MaterialsVol. 35(10)
Peking University (CN), Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (CN), Tsinghua University (CN)
National Natural Science Foundation of China, Natural Science Foundation of Beijing Municipality, Beijing Municipal Science and Technology Commission
Openalex Percentile: Top 8%
Fiber-reinforced polymer composites
2.98
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.