Statnik Eugene S, Cvjetinovic Julijana, Ignatyev Semen D, Wassouf Loujain, Salimon Alexey I, Korsunsky Alexander M
«LUCh» Lab, NUST MISIS, 119049 Moscow, Russia.
Center for Photonic Science and Engineering, Skoltech, 121205 Moscow, Russia.
Polymers (Basel). 2023 Nov 17;15(22):4448. doi: 10.3390/polym15224448.
Epoxy matrix composites reinforced with high-performance fibers, such as carbon, Kevlar, and glass, exhibit excellent specific stiffness and strength in many mechanical applications. However, these composites are disappointingly non-recyclable and are usually disposed of in landfill sites, with no realistic prospect for biodegradation in a reasonable time. In contrast, moldable composites with carbonized elastomeric matrices developed in the last decades possess attractive mechanical properties in final net-shape products and can also be incinerated or recycled. Many carbon and inorganic fillers have recently been evaluated to adjust the properties of carbonized elastomeric composites. Renewable organic fillers, such as human or animal hair, offer an attractive fibrous material with substantial potential for reinforcing composites with elastomeric matrices. Samples of unidirectional fiber composites (with hair volume fractions up to 7%) and quasi-isotropic short fiber composites (with hair volume fractions up to 20%) of human hair-reinforced nitrile butadiene rubbers (HH-NBRs) were produced in the peroxide-cured and carbonized states. The samples were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Raman spectroscopy, and photoacoustic microscopy. Mechanical tests were performed under tension using a miniature universal testing machine. The expected effect of fiber reinforcement on the overall mechanical performance was demonstrated for both cured and carbonized composites. Considerable enhancement of the elastic modulus (up to ten times), ultimate tensile strength (up to three times), and damage tolerance was achieved. The evidence of satisfactory interfacial bonding between hair and rubber was confirmed via SEM imaging of fracture surfaces. The suitability of photoacoustic microscopy was assessed for 3D reconstructions of the fiber sub-system's spatial distribution and non-destructive testing.
由高性能纤维（如碳纤维、芳纶纤维和玻璃纤维）增强的环氧树脂基复合材料在许多机械应用中表现出优异的比刚度和强度。然而，令人失望的是，这些复合材料不可回收，通常被丢弃在垃圾填埋场，在合理时间内没有生物降解的现实前景。相比之下，在过去几十年中开发的具有碳化弹性体基体的可模塑复合材料在最终的净形产品中具有吸引人的机械性能，并且也可以被焚烧或回收利用。最近，人们对许多碳填料和无机填料进行了评估，以调整碳化弹性体复合材料的性能。可再生有机填料，如人发或动物毛发，提供了一种有吸引力的纤维材料，具有增强弹性体基体复合材料的巨大潜力。制备了人发增强丁腈橡胶（HH-NBR）的单向纤维复合材料（毛发体积分数高达7%）和准各向同性短纤维复合材料（毛发体积分数高达20%）的过氧化物固化和碳化状态的样品。使用扫描电子显微镜（SEM）、拉曼光谱和光声显微镜对样品进行了表征。使用微型万能试验机在拉伸条件下进行了力学测试。对于固化和碳化复合材料，均证明了纤维增强对整体力学性能的预期效果。弹性模量（提高了十倍）、极限拉伸强度（提高了三倍）和损伤容限都有了显著提高。通过断裂表面的SEM成像证实了毛发与橡胶之间具有令人满意的界面粘结。评估了光声显微镜在纤维子系统空间分布的三维重建和无损检测方面的适用性。
