A High Coordination of Cross-Links Is Beneficial for the Strength of Cross-Linked Fibers
1
Faculty of Physics, University of Vienna, Boltzmanngasse 5, 1090 Vienna, Austria
2
Ludwig Boltzmann Institute of Osteology at the Hanusch Hospital of WGKK and AUVA Trauma Centre Meidling, 1st Medical Department Hanusch Hospital, Heinrich Collin Strasse 30, 1140 Vienna, Austria
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Biomimetics 2019, 4(1), 12; https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics4010012
Received: 20 November 2018 / Revised: 18 January 2019 / Accepted: 22 January 2019 / Published: 4 February 2019
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biogenic and Bioinspired Self-Healing Materials)
Abstract
The influence of the coordination of (reversible) cross-links on the mechanical properties of aligned fiber bundles is investigated. Two polymeric systems containing cross-links of different coordination (two- and three-fold coordination) but having the same binding energy are investigated. In particular, the response to loading of these systems is compared. Mechanical parameters (strength, stiffness and work-to-fracture) are obtained by computational loading tests. The influence of coordination is studied for simple test systems with pre-defined topologies that maximize strength as well as for more realistic fiber bundles containing nine chains. The results show that a higher coordination of cross-links has a beneficial effect on the strength and the stiffness of the systems, while the work-to-fracture was found larger for the system having a smaller coordination of cross-links. It can be concluded that controlling the coordination of cross-links is a versatile tool to specifically tailor the mechanical properties of polymeric structures.
Graphical abstract
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited (CC BY 4.0).
Share & Cite This Article
MDPI and ACS Style
Shabbir, H.; Dellago, C.; Hartmann, M.A. A High Coordination of Cross-Links Is Beneficial for the Strength of Cross-Linked Fibers. Biomimetics 2019, 4, 12.
Note that from the first issue of 2016, MDPI journals use article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.
Article Metrics
Comments
[Return to top]
Biomimetics
EISSN 2313-7673
Published by MDPI AG, Basel, Switzerland
RSS
E-Mail Table of Contents Alert