Magnetic double-network composite capable of large recoverable deformation.

This paper presents the design and fabrication of a magnetic double network (DN) composite, which consists of permanent magnet chains embedded in an elastomer matrix, and was capable of large yet fully recoverable deformation. The initially connected magnets served as reusable sacrificial components in the composite. The strong magnetic attraction between neighboring magnetics endowed the composite with the high strength while the compliance of the elastomer matrix provided the high extensibility. Having a similar mechanism as DN gels, the composite was found to be significantly tougher than either of the constituents. The nonlinear behavior in the composite separated it into two coexisting phases - a softer phase with separated magnet links and a stiffer phase with connected magnet links - which led to the stress plateau on the tensile curve. Further stretching was manifested by the growth of the disconnected softer phase at the expense of the linked stiffer phase, until all magnets were separated. The unloading curves appeared drastically different from the loading curves, as the force needed to separate two magnets was much higher than the force at which two separated magnets snapped back. Such asymmetry between loading and unloading was the main cause of the hysteresis in the stress-strain curve and the energy dissipation. To further understand the physical mechanism and the damage process of the magnetic DN composite, a simple model was developed to examine the deformation and damage dissipation process of composite. With very few parameters, the model predictions agree qualitatively with the measured properties of the material, and the difference can be further reduced by accounting for the interfacial friction/adhesion, a second means of energy dissipation. With a combination of desired properties including high stretchability, self-healing, and high toughness, the magnetic DN composite is a viable candidate for various applications.

A highly stretchable double-network composite.

Inspired by the toughening mechanism of double-network (DN) hydrogels, a soft composite consisting of a fabric mesh and VHB tape layers was fabricated. The composite was as stiff as the fabric mesh, and as stretchable as the VHB tape. At certain compositions, the composite was significantly stronger and tougher than the base materials. The extensibility and toughness of the composite can be attributed to a damage delocalization mechanism similar to that of the DN gels. In the partially damaged regions, the fabric mesh fragmented into small islands, surrounded by the highly stretched VHB tapes. Accommodated by the finite sliding at the interface, the large deformation of the composite is highly non-affine. Just as the DN gels, the coexistence of the partially damaged and intact regions resulted in a stable necking in the composite when subjected to uniaxial tension. The propagation of the necking zone corresponded to a plateau on the stress-stretch curve. During cyclic loading, the composite also exhibited stress hysteresis with almost recoverable strain, similar to that in a DN gel. To rationalize these observations and to better understand the underlying physical mechanism, a simple 1D model has been developed for the damage evolution process in the composite. The predictions of the model have achieved good agreement with the measured properties of the composite of various compositions. Furthermore, the composite itself may also be regarded as a macroscopic model when studying the properties and toughening mechanism of the DN gels.