Interfacial reinforced carbon fiber composites inspired by biological interlocking structure

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Composite Materials
• Biomimetics

Background:

• Weak interfacial activity and poor wettability limit the mechanical properties of carbon fiber-reinforced composites (CFRCs).
• Natural structures often possess optimized designs for strength and toughness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the natural hook-groove microstructure system (HGMS) in bird feathers.
• To develop a biomimetic HGMS for enhancing interfacial adhesion in CFRCs.

Main Methods:

• Investigated the microstructure and mechanical interlocking mechanism of Black Kite wing feathers.
• Constructed a biomimetic HGMS using dopamine-functionalized carbon fibers and ZnO nanorods via a two-step modification.
• Fabricated enhanced CFRCs using a vacuum-assisted contact molding method.

Main Results:

• Successfully created biomimetic HGMS to improve interfacial adhesion.
• Achieved a 40.02% increase in flexural strength.
• Achieved a 101.63% increase in interlaminar shear strength.

Conclusions:

• The biomimetic HGMS design effectively enhances interfacial adhesion and mechanical properties of CFRCs.
• The proposed strategy offers a flexible and effective approach for fabricating high-performance CFRCs.