Toughening elastomers using mussel-inspired iron-catechol complexes
University of California, Santa Barbara · University of Stuttgart
Abstract
Materials often exhibit a trade-off between stiffness and extensibility; for example, strengthening elastomers by increasing their cross-link density leads to embrittlement and decreased toughness. Inspired by cuticles of marine mussel byssi, we circumvent this inherent trade-off by incorporating sacrificial, reversible iron-catechol cross-links into a dry, loosely cross-linked epoxy network. The iron-containing network exhibits two to three orders of magnitude increases in stiffness, tensile strength, and tensile toughness compared to its iron-free precursor while gaining recoverable hysteretic energy dissipation and maintaining its original extensibility. Compared to previous realizations of this chemistry…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 32.68
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 30
Authors
7- EFEmmanouela FilippidiCorresponding
University of California, Santa Barbara
- TRThomas R. CristianiCorresponding
University of California, Santa Barbara
- CDClaus D. Eisenbach
University of Stuttgart, University of California, Santa Barbara
- JHJ. Herbert Waite
University of California, Santa Barbara
- JNJacob N. Israelachvili
University of California, Santa Barbara
Topics & keywords
- Toughening
- Catechol
- Elastomer
- Mussel
- Polymer science
- Materials science
- Chemistry
- Composite material