Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

In this research, optically transparent composites were successfully fabricated by embedding polyacylonitrile hollow nanofibers into poly(methyl methacrylate) matrix. Hollow polyacylonitrile nanofibers were first prepared by coaxial electrospinning polyacylonitrile/mineral oil solution, followed by etching with octane to remove the mineral oil from the fibers. Polyacylonitrile hollow fibers were then homogeneously distributed in poly(methyl methacrylate) resins to fabricate the composite. The embedded polyacylonitrile hollow nanofibers significantly enhanced the tensile stress and the Young’s modulus of the composite (increased by 58.3% and 50.4%, respectively), while having little influence on the light transmittance of the composite. This novel transparent composite could be used for transparent armor protection, window panes in vehicles and buildings, airplane windshield, etc.

Keywords

Transparent composite hollow nanofibers PMMA PAN

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Song

Kim

Yang

. Hydrothermal synthesis of self-emitting Y(V,P)O₄ nanophosphors for fabrication of transparent blue-emitting display device. J Lumin 2012; 132: 1278–1284.

Wittwer

. The use of transparent insulation materials and optical switching layers in window systems. Renewable Energy 1994; 5: 318–323.

Bhattacharya

. Evaluation of high energy ion-implanted polycarbonate for eyewear applications. Surf Coat Technol 1998; 103–104: 151–155.

Manohara

Hanagodimath

Gerward

. Photon interaction and energy absorption in glass: a transparent gamma ray shield. J Nucl Mater 2009; 393: 465–472.

Hornak

. Polymers for lightwave and integrated optics, New York: Marcel Dekker, 1992.

Cheng

Chen

. Mechanical properties and strain-rate effect of EVA/PMMA in situ polymerization blends. Eur Polym J 2004; 40: 1239–1248.

Grubb

Phoenix

. Measurement of stress concentration in a fiber adjacent to a fiber break in a model composite. Compos Sci Technol 1995; 54: 237–249.

Huang

Zhang

Kotaki

. A review on polymer nanoﬁbers by electrospinning and their applications in nanocomposites. Compos Sci Technol 2003; 63: 2223–2253.

Wang

Jing

. Transparent conductive thin films based on polyaniline nanofibers. Mater Sci Eng: B 2007; 138: 95–100.

10.

Arend

. Influence of porous coatings on heat transfer in superfluid helium. Cryogenics 1994; 34: 301–308.

11.

Li YZ, Ruppert U and Arend I. Heat transfer performance of superconductor wire with porous insulation. In: Int. Conf. On Cryogenics & Refrigeration, Hangzhou, China, April 1998.

12.

Lin

Cai

. Electrospun nanofiber reinforced and toughened composites through in situ nano-interface formation. Compos Sci Technol 2008; 68: 3322–3329.

13.

Liu

Hsieh

. Preparation of water-absorbing polyacrylonitrile nanofibrous membrane. Macromol Rapid Commun 2006; 27: 142–145.

14.

Zhou

Lai

Zhang

. Development of carbon nanofibers from aligned electrospun polyacrylonitrile nanofiber bundles and characterization of their microstructural, electrical, and mechanical properties. Polymer 2009; 50: 2999–3006.

15.

Liao

. Aligned electrospun cellulose fibers reinforced epoxy resin composite films with high visible light transmittance. Cellulose 2012; 19: 111–119.

16.

Liu

. Optically transparent poly(methylmethacrylate) composite films reinforced with electrospun polyacrylonitrile nanofibers. J Compos Mater 2012; 46: 2731–2738.

Optically transparent poly(methyl methacrylate) composite reinforced by polyacylonitrile hollow nanofibers

Abstract

Keywords

Get full access to this article

References