Minghui Wu, Qian Ren, Xueyun Li, Peng Gao, Long Wang, Wenge Zheng, Ping Cui, Xiaosu Yi, Wei Yang
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
The mechanical properties of polymeric foams are strongly associated with their cellular structure. However, the relationship between the cellular structure and the mechanical behavior of polymeric foams is complicated by the interdependence of cell size and expansion ratio. Herein, we explored the relationship between cell size and impact strength in poly(lactic acid) (PLA)/rubber blend foams by controlling the cell size while maintaining a constant expansion ratio. Surprisingly, a cell size-induced brittle-to-tough transition was observed at a critical cell size. Foams exhibited brittleness when the cell size exceeded this critical threshold, whereas smaller cell sizes led to improved toughness. The increased toughness was attributed to the robust interaction of stress fields generated by adjacent cells and rubber particles, which could hinder the progression of cell-induced crazes into cracks, resulting in greater energy absorption. This study provides a universal strategy for enhancing the resilience of polymer/rubber blend foams.
期刊介绍:
Macromolecules publishes original, fundamental, and impactful research on all aspects of polymer science. Topics of interest include synthesis (e.g., controlled polymerizations, polymerization catalysis, post polymerization modification, new monomer structures and polymer architectures, and polymerization mechanisms/kinetics analysis); phase behavior, thermodynamics, dynamic, and ordering/disordering phenomena (e.g., self-assembly, gelation, crystallization, solution/melt/solid-state characteristics); structure and properties (e.g., mechanical and rheological properties, surface/interfacial characteristics, electronic and transport properties); new state of the art characterization (e.g., spectroscopy, scattering, microscopy, rheology), simulation (e.g., Monte Carlo, molecular dynamics, multi-scale/coarse-grained modeling), and theoretical methods. Renewable/sustainable polymers, polymer networks, responsive polymers, electro-, magneto- and opto-active macromolecules, inorganic polymers, charge-transporting polymers (ion-containing, semiconducting, and conducting), nanostructured polymers, and polymer composites are also of interest. Typical papers published in Macromolecules showcase important and innovative concepts, experimental methods/observations, and theoretical/computational approaches that demonstrate a fundamental advance in the understanding of polymers.