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Hydration and Dynamic State of Nanoconfined Polymer Layers Govern Toughness in Nacre‐mimetic Nanocomposites
Author(s) -
Verho Tuukka,
Karesoja Mikko,
Das Paramita,
Martikainen Lahja,
Lund Reidar,
Alegría Angel,
Walther Andreas,
Ikkala Olli
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.201301881
Subject(s) - materials science , nanocomposite , vinyl alcohol , toughness , toughening , brittleness , composite material , polymer , composite number , glass transition , polymer nanocomposite , stiffness , natural rubber
Biological high‐performance composites inspire to create new tough, strong, and stiff structural materials. We show a brittle‐to‐ductile transition in a self‐assembled nacre‐inspired poly(vinyl alcohol)/nanoclay composite based on a hydration‐induced glass‐to‐rubber transition in the 2D‐nanoconfined poly(vinyl alcohol) layers. The findings open routes to design dissipative toughening mechanisms to combine stiffness and strength in nanocomposites.