title: Can nature's design be improved upon? High strength, transparent nacre-like nanocomposites with double network of sacrificial cross links.
abstract: The preparation of a high-strength and highly transparent nacre-like nanocomposite via layer-by-layer assembly technique from poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and Na+-montmorillonite clay nanosheets is reported in this article. We show that a high density of weak bonding interactions between the polymer and the clay particles: hydrogen, dipole-induced dipole, and van der Waals undergoing break-reform deformations, can lead to high strength nanocomposites: sigmaUTS approximately 150 MPa and E' approximately 13 GPa. Further introduction of ionic bonds into the polymeric matrix creates a double network of sacrificial bonds which dramatically increases the mechanical properties: sigmaUTS approximately 320 MPa and E' approximately 60 GPa.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, USA.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Podsiadlo
authors.forename: Amit K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Kaushik
authors.forename: Bong Sup
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Shim
authors.forename: Ashish
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agarwal
authors.forename: Zhiyong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Anthony M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Waas
authors.forename: Ellen M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Arruda
authors.forename: Nicholas A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Kotov
mesh_terms: D001546:Bentonite / Q000737:chemistry; D002119:Calcium Carbonate / Q000737:chemistry*; D008027:Light; D018625:Microscopy, Atomic Force; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D053761:Nanocomposites / Q000737:chemistry*; D036103:Nanotechnology; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol / Q000737:chemistry; D013056:Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
chemical_list: D001546:Bentonite; D011142:Polyvinyl Alcohol; D002119:Calcium Carbonate