Glass Transition Temperature Regulates Mechanical Performance in Nacre-Mimetic Nanocomposites

Although research in bioinspired nanocomposites is delivering mechanically superior nanocomposite materials, there remain gaps in understanding some fundamental design principles. This article discusses how the mechanical properties of nacre-mimetic polymer/nanoclay nanocomposites with nanoconfined polymer layers are controlled by the thermo-mechanical polymer properties, that is, glass transition temperature, T_g, using a series of poly(ethylene glycol methyl ether methacrylate-co-N,N-dimethylacrylamide) copolymers with tunable T_g from 130 to -55 °C. It is elucidated that both the type of copolymer and the nanoconfined polymer layer thickness control energy dissipation and inelastic deformation at high fractions of reinforcements in such bioinspired nanocomposites.