ORCID Profile
0000-0002-4257-8148
Current Organisation
University of New South Wales
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In Research Link Australia (RLA), "Research Topics" refer to ANZSRC FOR and SEO codes. These topics are either sourced from ANZSRC FOR and SEO codes listed in researchers' related grants or generated by a large language model (LLM) based on their publications.
Materials engineering | Composite and hybrid materials | Nanomaterials | Chemical Engineering Design | Medical Devices | Synthesis of Materials | Nanotechnology | Polymerisation Mechanisms | Sensor Technology (Chemical aspects) | Solid Mechanics | Materials Engineering | Chemical Engineering | Aerospace Materials | Composite and Hybrid Materials | Polymers and plastics | Functional materials
Expanding Knowledge in Engineering | Plastic Products (incl. Construction Materials) | Polymeric Materials (e.g. Paints) | Diagnostic Methods | Expanding Knowledge in the Chemical Sciences | Health Status (e.g. Indicators of Well-Being) |
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 27-10-2017
Abstract: Structure-property relationships of silk is an intriguing topic for silk-based biomaterials research since these features are related to biomimicking the processing in natural silk fiber formation which results in excellent mechanical properties. Strain-stiffening is common for spider silks and nonmulberry silkworm silks. However, the structural origin of strain-stiffening remains unclear. In this paper, the strain-dependent structural change of Antheraea pernyi silkworm silk is studied by X-ray fiber diffraction and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy under stretching. Based on a combination of mechanical and structural analysis, the molecular origins of strain-stiffening in A. pernyi silk were determined. The relatively high content of the β-sheets within the amorphous domains in A. pernyi silk is responsible for strain-stiffening, where "molecular spindles" enhance the extensibility and toughness of the fiber.
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 06-12-2014
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2017
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2023
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2019
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2017
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2019
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 03-2022
Abstract: Liquid metal droplets of gallium (Ga) and Ga‐based alloys are traditionally incorporated as deformable additives into soft elastomers to make them conductive. However, such a strategy has not been implemented to develop conductive sponges with real sponge‐like characteristics. Herein, polyurethane‐based sponges with Ga microdroplets embedded inside the polyurethane walls are developed. The liquid phase (at 45 °C) and solid phase (at room temperature) transition of the Ga fillers shows the temperature‐dependent functional variations in the mechanical, thermal, and electrical properties on the prepared composite sponges, which are investigated in detail. Unlike elastomers, the sponge possesses excellent elastic recovery, at ≈90%, and conductivity durability without sacrificing structural integrity. The reversible change of resistivity range is remarkable. When the Ga fillers account for 18% of the total sponge volume, the electrical resistivity varies from infinite values (insulator) under no applied pressure to 39.0 Ω m for the solid phase and 3.8 Ω m for the liquid phase under 386.8 kPa. New opportunities in developing flexible electrically conductive composite sponges with tunable mechanical and electrical properties that can be implemented for a variety of future applications are proposed.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2014
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 09-02-2018
DOI: 10.1021/ACS.BIOMAC.7B01687
Abstract: Silkworm silk has attracted considerable attention in recent years due to its excellent mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and promising applications in biomedical sector. However, a clear understanding of the molecular structure and the relationship between the excellent mechanical properties and the silk protein sequences are still lacking. This study carries out a thorough comparative structural analysis of silk fibers of four silkworm species ( Bombyx mori, Antheraea pernyi, Samia cynthia ricini, and Antheraea assamensis). A combination of characterization techniques including scanning electron microscopy, mechanical test, synchrotron X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and NMR spectroscopy was applied to investigate the morphologies, mechanical properties, amino acid compositions, nanoscale organizations, and molecular structures of various silkworm silks. Furthermore, the structure-property relationship is discussed by correlating the molecular structural features of silks with their mechanical properties. The results show that a high content of β-sheet structures and a high crystallinity would result in a high Young's modulus for silkworm silk fibers. Additionally, a low content of β-sheet structures would result in a high extensibility.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2021
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2021
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2010
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2021
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.MSEC.2018.12.089
Abstract: Turmeric nanofibers (TNF) were used as reinforcement in the gum arabic (GA), maltodextrin (MDX) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) matrices to enhance the physicochemical properties. The TNF were prepared from turmeric spent by acid hydrolysis accompanied by high pressure homogenization. The thermal and mechanical properties, structure morphology and antimicrobial activities of the prepared nanocomposites were investigated. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) data indicate that the addition of TNF significantly increased the onset temperature (T
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2016
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 30-03-2017
Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
Date: 2021
DOI: 10.1039/D1NA00501D
Abstract: Hybrid piezo–triboelectric nanogenerators constitute a new class of self-powered systems that exploit the synergy of piezoelectric and triboelectric mechanisms to address the energy and power needs for portable and wearable electronic devices.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2015
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 20-07-2009
Abstract: The influence of manufacturing process on the drop-weight impact damage in woven carbon/epoxy laminates was inspected by visual observation, dye-penetrant X-ray technique, and optical microscopy observation. The MTM56/ CF0300 woven quasi-isotropic laminates were fabricated by two processes: the autoclave and the Quickstep processes. Quickstep TM is a novel composite manufacturing process, which was designed for the out-of-autoclave production of high-quality composite parts at lower cost. It utilizes higher heat conduction of fluid other than gas to transfer heat to components, which results in much shorter cure cycles. The laminates cured by this fast heating process showed different impact failure modes from those cured by the conventional autoclave process. The residual indentation in the top side of the Quickstep-cured laminates had a bigger diameter, but a smaller depth at the same impact energy level. Dye-penetrant X-ray revealed more intense and connected impact damage regions in the autoclave-cured laminates. Optical micrography as a supplementary method showed less severe matrix damage in the quickstep-cured laminates indicating a more ductile property of the resin matrix cured at a faster heating rate.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2017
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2012
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2015
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 08-04-2020
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2015
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2020
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 18-07-2022
Abstract: Nanostructured polymeric materials play important roles in many advanced applications, however, controlling the morphologies of polymeric thermosets remains a challenge. This work uses multi‐arm macroCTAs to mediate polymerization‐induced microphase separation (PIMS) and prepare nanostructured materials via photoinduced 3D printing. The characteristic length scale of microphase‐separated domains is determined by the macroCTA arm length, while nanoscale morphologies are controlled by the macroCTA architecture. Specifically, using 2‐ and 4‐ arm macroCTAs provides materials with different morphologies compared to analogous monofunctional linear macroCTAs at similar compositions. The mechanical properties of these nanostructured thermosets can also be tuned while maintaining the desired morphologies. Using multi‐arm macroCTAs can thus broaden the scope of accessible nanostructures for extended applications, including the fabrication of actuators and potential drug delivery devices.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2012
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 17-04-2017
Abstract: Highly flexible and deformable electrically conductive materials are vital for the emerging field of wearable electronics. To address the challenge of flexible materials with a relatively high electrical conductivity and a high elastic limit, we report a new and facile method to prepare porous polydimethylsiloxane/carbon nanofiber composites (denoted by p-PDMS/CNF). This method involves using sugar particles coated with carbon nanofibers (CNFs) as the templates. The resulting three-dimensional porous nanocomposites, with the CNFs embedded in the PDMS pore walls, exhibit a greatly increased failure strain (up to ∼94%) compared to that of the solid, neat PDMS (∼48%). The piezoresistive response observed under cyclic tension indicates that the unique microstructure provides the new nanocomposites with excellent durability. The electrical conductivity and the gauge factor of this new nanocomposite can be tuned by changing the content of the CNFs. The electrical conductivity increases, while the gauge factor decreases, upon increasing the content of CNFs. The gauge factor of the newly developed sensors can be adjusted from approximately 1.0 to 6.5, and the nanocomposites show stable piezoresistive performance with fast response time and good linearity in ln(R/R
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2013
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2022
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 03-09-2023
Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
Date: 2015
DOI: 10.1039/C4RA09482D
Abstract: Both the physical and physiochemical properties of domestic and wild silkworm silk fibroin were studied, including surface energy and surface energy heterogeneity.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 14-02-2019
DOI: 10.1002/POLB.24799
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2020
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2020
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2012
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2018
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 19-09-2013
DOI: 10.1021/BM401023H
Abstract: A silk cocoon protects a silkworm during its pupal stage from various threats. We systematically investigated the role of fiber, sericin, and embedded crystals in the UV protection of a silk cocoon. Diffuse reflectance and UV absorbance were measured and free radicals generated during exposure to UV radiation were quantified using photoinduced chemiluminescence (PICL). We identified the response to both UV-A and UV-B radiations by silk materials and found that sericin was primarily responsible for UV-A absorption. When sericin was removed, the photoinduced chemiluminescence intensity increased significantly, indicating higher UV-A-induced reactions of cocoons in the absence of sericin. There is progressively higher sericin content toward the outer part of the cocoon shell that allows an effective shield to pupae from UV radiation and resists photodegradation of silk fibers. The study will inspire development of advanced organic photoprotective materials and designing silk-based, free-radical-scavenging antioxidants.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 05-10-2016
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2020
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2012
Publisher: American Vacuum Society
Date: 25-05-2016
DOI: 10.1116/1.4952451
Abstract: A silkworm cocoon is a porous biological structure with multiple protective functions. In the current work, the authors have used both experimental and numerical methods to reveal the unique moisture transfer characteristics through a wild Antheraea pernyi silkworm cocoon wall, in comparison with the long-domesticated Bombyx mori silkworm cocoon walls. The water vapor transmission and water vapor permeability (WVP) properties show that the A. pernyi cocoons exhibit directional moisture transfer behavior, with easier moisture transfer from inside out than outside in [e.g., the average WVP is 0.057 g/(h m bar) from inside out and is 0.034 g/(h m bar) from outside in]. Numerical analysis shows that the cubic mineral crystals in the outer section of the A. pernyi cocoon wall create a rough surface that facilitates air turbulence and promotes disturbance litude of the flow field, leading to lengthened water vapor transfer path and increased tortuosity of the moist air. It also indicates the vortex of water vapor can be generated in the outer section of cocoon wall, which increases the diffusion distance of water vapor and enhances the turbulence kinetic energy and turbulence eddy dissipation, signifying higher moisture resistance in the outer section. The difference in moisture resistance of the multiple A. pernyi cocoon layers is largely responsible for the unique directional moisture transfer behavior of this wild silkworm cocoon. These findings may inspire a biomimicry approach to develop novel lightweight moisture management materials and structures.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2019
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 06-12-2022
Abstract: Currently, there are no straightforward methods to 3D print materials with nanoscale control over morphological and functional properties. Here, a novel approach for the fabrication of materials with controlled nanoscale morphologies using a rapid and commercially available Digital Light Processing 3D printing technique is demonstrated. This process exploits reversible deactivation radical polymerization to control the in‐situ‐polymerization‐induced microphase separation of 3D printing resins, which provides materials with complex architectures controllable from the macro‐ to nanoscale, resulting in the preparation of materials with enhanced mechanical properties. This method does not require specialized equipment or process conditions and thus represents an important development in the production of advanced materials via additive manufacturing.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 25-11-2007
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2021
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2022
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 29-06-2007
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 03-2019
Abstract: A green approach was successfully developed to fabricate flexible sensors by utilizing carbonized waste cotton fabrics in combination with natural rubber latex. Waste cotton fabrics were firstly carbonized by heat treatment in the nitrogen atmosphere before they were combined with natural rubber latex using three methods, i.e., vacuum bagging, negative pressure adsorption and drop coating. After impregnation with natural rubber, the carbonized cotton maintained the fabric structure and showed good conductivity. More importantly, the electric resistance of the textile composites changed with the tensile strain. The cyclic stretching-releasing tests indicated that the prepared wearable flexible strain sensors were sensitive to strain and stable under cyclic loading. The flexible strain sensor also demonstrated the capability of monitoring human finger and arm motion.
Publisher: Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc
Date: 15-11-2013
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 18-09-2023
Abstract: The majority of materials 3D printed using vat photopolymerization techniques are prepared by uncontrolled polymerization methods and cannot be easily modified to introduce additional functionality these materials can be considered as effectively “dead” materials. Fortunately, a suite of photocontrolled reversible–deactivation radical polymerization (photoRDRP) techniques is recently implemented in 3D printing. In addition to their fast polymerization rate and oxygen tolerance, the high livingness imparted by photoRDRP methods is beginning to disrupt the field of 3D printing by providing access to materials with advanced properties, including on‐demand editing of surface and bulk properties, self‐healing, and control over nanostructuration and mechanical properties. This mini‐review analyzes the development of photoRDRP techniques in the field of photoinduced 3D printing with an emphasis on the advanced and highly tailorable materials possible through these techniques.
Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
Date: 2018
DOI: 10.1039/C8NR05167D
Abstract: Recently, thermally regulating textiles have attracted wide interest owing to their ability to realize personal cooling and provide thermal comfort.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2021
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 22-07-2016
Abstract: As a biological fibrous structure, silkworm cocoon provides multiple protective functionalities to safeguard the silk moth pupa’s metabolic activity. The mechanism of this protection could be adopted in clothing manufacture to provide more comfortable apparel. In this study, the thermal insulation properties of both domestic Bombyx mori ( B. mori) and wild Antheraea pernyi ( A. pernyi) cocoons were investigated under both warm and cold environmental conditions. Computational fluid dynamics models have been developed to simulate the heat transfer process through both types of cocoon wall structures. The simulation results show that the wild A. pernyi cocoon reduces the intensity of convection and heat flux between the environment and the cocoon interior and has higher wind resistance than its domestic counterpart. Compared with A. pernyi cocoon, the B. mori cocoon facilitates easy air transfer and decreases the temperature lag when the surrounding conditions are changed. The new knowledge has significant implications for developing biomimetic thermal functional materials.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2011
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2016
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2012
Publisher: American Vacuum Society
Date: 24-07-2014
DOI: 10.1116/1.4890982
Abstract: Biological materials are hierarchically organized complex composites, which embrace multiple practical functionalities. As an ex le, the wild silkworm cocoon provides multiple protective functions against environmental and physical hazards, promoting the survival chance of moth pupae that resides inside. In the present investigation, the microstructure and thermal property of the Chinese tussah silkworm (Antheraea pernyi) cocoon in both warm and cold environments under windy conditions have been studied by experimental and numerical methods. A new computational fluid dynamics model has been developed according to the original fibrous structure of the Antheraea pernyi cocoon to simulate the unique heat transfer process through the cocoon wall. The structure of the Antheraea pernyi cocoon wall can promote the disorderness of the interior air, which increases the wind resistance by stopping most of the air flowing into the cocoon. The Antheraea pernyi cocoon is wind-proof due to the mineral crystals deposited on the outer layer surface and its hierarchical structure with low porosity and high tortuosity. The research findings have important implications to enhancing the thermal function of biomimetic protective textiles and clothing.
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 28-04-2018
Abstract: Natural plant fibers need to be spun into yarns to produce textile preforms for structural composites. The twist in the spun yarn causes fiber misalignment. This paper reports the construction of a two-ply yarn from such twisted yarn with improved fiber alignment to maximize the mechanical performance of resulting composites. This is achieved by twisting two twisted singles yarns in the opposite direction. The level of opposite-direction ply twist as a percentage of the twist in the initial singles yarn has shown a significant influence on the tensile and flexural properties of the final composites. The maximum performance is achieved when the ratio between the ply yarn twist and the singles yarn twist was approximately 0.3, which coincides with the ratio for achieving maximum Krenchel fiber orientation factor for the two-ply yarn as predicted by a geometrical model. This ply yarn twist/singles yarn twist ratio can be used as a design guideline for natural fiber yarns used as reinforcement for load-bearing composites.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2011
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2021
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2016
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2009
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2021
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2023
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 25-02-2021
DOI: 10.1038/S41598-021-84083-2
Abstract: Recent discoveries of two-dimensional transitional metal based materials have emerged as an excellent candidate for fabricating nanostructured flame-retardants. Herein, we report an eco-friendly flame-retardant for flexible polyurethane foam (PUF), which is synthesised by hybridising MXene (Ti $$_3\\hbox {C}_2$$ 3 C 2 ) with biomass materials including phytic acid (PA), casein, pectin, and chitosan (CH). Results show that coating PUFs with 3 layers of CH/PA/Ti $$_3\\hbox {C}_2$$ 3 C 2 via layer-by-layer approach reduces the peak heat release and total smoke release by 51.1% and 84.8%, respectively. These exceptional improvements exceed those achieved by a CH/Ti $$_3\\hbox {C}_2$$ 3 C 2 coating. To further understand the fundamental flame and smoke reduction phenomena, a pyrolysis model with surface regression was developed to simulate the flame propagation and char layer. A genetic algorithm was utilised to determine optimum parameters describing the thermal degradation rate. The superior flame-retardancy of CH/PA/Ti $$_3\\hbox {C}_2$$ 3 C 2 was originated from the shielding and charring effects of the hybrid MXene with biomass materials containing aromatic rings, phenolic and phosphorous compounds.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 19-06-2023
Abstract: In this study, the fabrication of 3D‐printed polymer materials with controlled phase separation using polymerization induced microphase separation (PIMS) via photoinduced 3D printing is demonstrated. While many parameters affecting the nanostructuration in PIMS processes are extensively investigated, the influence of the chain transfer agent (CTA) end group, i.e., Z‐group, of macromolecular chain transfer agent (macroCTA) remains unclear as previous research has exclusively employed trithiocarbonate as the CTA end group. Herein, the effect of macroCTAs containing four different Z‐groups on the formation of nanostructure of 3D printed materials is explored. The results show that the different Z‐groups lead to distinct network formation and phase separation behaviors between the resins, influencing both the 3D printing process and the resulting material properties. Specifically, less reactive macroCTAs toward acrylic radical addition, such as O ‐alkyl xanthate and N ‐alkyl‐ N ‐aryl dithiocarbamate, result in translucent and brittle materials with macrophase separation morphology. In contrast, more reactive macroCTAs such as S ‐alkyl trithiocarbonate and 4‐chloro‐3,5‐dimethylpyrazo dithiocarbamate produce transparent and rigid materials with nano‐scale morphology. Findings of this study provide a novel approach to manipulate the nanostructure and properties of 3D printed PIMS materials, which can have important implications for materials science and engineering.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 11-12-2021
Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
Date: 2020
DOI: 10.1039/C9CP05488J
Abstract: The presence of unpaired electrons (radicals) due to structural defects is believed to contribute to the catalytic reactivity of carbon materials. Graphite oxide and graphene oxide (GO) consist of significant structural defects and hence are considered more reactive than graphite and graphene. However, the relationship between their radical content/reactivity and their physical and chemical structures remains unknown, which limits the fabrication of high efficiency carbon-based catalysts. In this work, we progressively oxidize graphite to achieve graphite oxide and GO with different levels of oxidation and different sizes. It is observed that a maximal radical content can be achieved on graphite oxide with a C/O ratio of ca. 3.0 and a thickness of around 50 nm. Such a graphite oxide contains about 45% of π bonds and 38% of oxygenated bonds, respectively. Thinner or thicker sheets have lower radical contents due to over or insufficient oxidation, respectively. Single GO sheets with high radical contents can only be produced through a combination of oxidation and reduction. The catalytic activity of the graphite/graphene oxide for phenol degradation was found to be linearly correlated to their radical contents. The observations are significant for the advancement of carbon-based metal-free catalysis.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 18-07-2022
Abstract: Nanostructured polymeric materials play important roles in many advanced applications, however, controlling the morphologies of polymeric thermosets remains a challenge. This work uses multi‐arm macroCTAs to mediate polymerization‐induced microphase separation (PIMS) and prepare nanostructured materials via photoinduced 3D printing. The characteristic length scale of microphase‐separated domains is determined by the macroCTA arm length, while nanoscale morphologies are controlled by the macroCTA architecture. Specifically, using 2‐ and 4‐ arm macroCTAs provides materials with different morphologies compared to analogous monofunctional linear macroCTAs at similar compositions. The mechanical properties of these nanostructured thermosets can also be tuned while maintaining the desired morphologies. Using multi‐arm macroCTAs can thus broaden the scope of accessible nanostructures for extended applications, including the fabrication of actuators and potential drug delivery devices.
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 20-09-2006
Abstract: Delamination resistance and nanocreep properties of 2/2 twill weave carbon epoxy composites manufactured by hot press, autoclave, and Quickstep™process are characterized and analyzed. Quickstep is a fluid filled, balanced pressure heated floating mold technology, which is recently developed in Perth, Western Australia for the manufacture of advanced composite components. Mode I and Mode II interlaminar fracture toughness tests, and nanoindentation creep tests on matrix materials show that the fast r rate of the Quickstep process provides mechanical properties comparable to that of autoclave at a lower cost for composite manufacturing. Low viscosity during r ing process and good fiber wetting are believed to be the reasons that this process produces composites with high delamination and creep-resistant properties. Nanocreep properties are analyzed using a Kelvin–Voigt model.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 12-11-2020
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2019
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2015
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 02-02-2015
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2013
DOI: 10.1016/J.MSEC.2013.03.051
Abstract: As a protective shell against environmental damage and attack by natural predators, the silkworm cocoon has outstanding mechanical properties. In particular, this multilayer non-woven composite structure can be exceptionally tough to enhance the chance of survival for silkworms while supporting their metabolic activity. Peel, out-of-plane compression and nano-indentation tests and micro-structure analysis were performed on four types of silkworm cocoon walls (domesticated Bombyx mori, semi-domesticated Antheraea assamensis and wild Antheraea pernyi and Antheraea mylitta silkworm cocoons) to understand the structure and mechanical property relationships. The wild silkworm cocoons were shown to be uniquely tough composite structures. The maximum work-of-fracture for the wild cocoons (A. pernyi and A. mylitta) was approximately 1000 J/m(2), which was almost 10 times the value for the domesticated cocoon (Bombyx mori) and 3~4 times the value for the semi-domesticated cocoon (A. assamensis). Calcium oxalate crystals were found to deposit on the outer surfaces of the semi-domesticated and wild cocoons. They did not show influence in enhancing the interlaminar adhesion between cocoon layers but exhibited much higher hardness than the cocoon pelades.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2013
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2018
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 27-11-2015
Abstract: The wild Antheraea pernyi silkworm cocoon is a thin and light-weight structure, yet it has shown effective thermal insulation characteristics against extreme temperature fluctuations, which meet the demands of humans for lighter materials with higher thermal resistance. We present a two-dimensional computational fluid dynamics model of this unique fibrous cocoon structure to simulate the heat transfer process through the cocoon wall. The model is able to predict the temperature field inside the cocoon reasonably well. The results of the model also show that the mineral crystals present in the outer layers of the Antheraea pernyi cocoon can increase air flow resistance and decrease the effect of natural convection, which further reduces the heat transfer through the cocoon wall effectively. This has practical significance for the development of thermal functional textiles and composite structures.
Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
Date: 2022
DOI: 10.1039/D1PY01283E
Abstract: Reversible addition–fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) polymerization has been exploited to design silica-nanoparticle-incorporated photocurable resins for 3D printing of materials with enhanced mechanical properties and complex structures.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2018
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 27-06-2022
Abstract: The interface between structural electrodes and solid electrolytes plays a key role in the electrical-mechanical properties of energy storage structures. Herein, we present a surface functionalization method to improve the ion conduction efficiency at the interface between a structural electrode and a solid electrolyte that consists of a bi-continuous network of epoxy and ionic liquid (IL). Composite supercapacitors made with this electrolyte and carbon fiber (CF) electrodes coated with manganese dioxide (MnO
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 05-11-2007
DOI: 10.1002/APP.27356
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 11-2017
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 18-05-2018
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2023
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 10-10-2018
DOI: 10.3390/MA11101929
Abstract: After platinum nanoparticles (PtNPs) were in-situ synthesized on silk fabrics through heat treatment, it was determined that the treatment of the silk fabrics with PtNPs imparted multiple functions, including coloring, catalysis, and antibacterial activity. The formation of PtNPs on fabrics was affected by the Pt ion concentration, pH value of solution, and reaction temperature. Acidic condition and high temperature were found to facilitate the formation of PtNPs on silk. The color strength of silk fabrics increased with the concentration of Pt ions. The PtNP treated silk fabrics exhibited reasonably good washing color fastness and excellent rubbing color fastness. The morphologies and chemical components of the treated silk fabrics were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The PtNP treated silk fabric exhibited significant catalytic function and a notable antibacterial effect against Escherichia coli (E. coli).
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 26-09-2023
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 04-01-2022
DOI: 10.3390/MOLECULES27010292
Abstract: Building polymers implemented into building panels and exterior façades have been determined as the major contributor to severe fire incidents, including the 2017 Grenfell Tower fire incident. To gain a deeper understanding of the pyrolysis process of these polymer composites, this work proposes a multi-scale modelling framework comprising of applying the kinetics parameters and detailed pyrolysis gas volatiles (parent combustion fuel and key precursor species) extracted from Molecular Dynamics models to a macro-scale Computational Fluid Dynamics fire model. The modelling framework was tested for pure and flame-retardant polyethylene systems. Based on the modelling results, the chemical distribution of the fully decomposed chemical compounds was realised for the selected polymers. Subsequently, the identified gas volatiles from solid to gas phases were applied as the parent fuel in the detailed chemical kinetics combustion model for enhanced predictions of toxic gas, charring, and smoke particulate predictions. The results demonstrate the potential application of the developed model in the simulation of different polymer materials without substantial prior knowledge of the thermal degradation properties from costly experiments.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2022
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 07-09-2016
Abstract: Strain sensors with high elastic limit and high sensitivity are required to meet the rising demand for wearable electronics. Here, we present the fabrication of highly sensitive strain sensors based on nanocomposites consisting of graphene aerogel (GA) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), with the primary focus being to tune the sensitivity of the sensors by tailoring the cellular microstructure through controlling the manufacturing processes. The resultant nanocomposite sensors exhibit a high sensitivity with a gauge factor of up to approximately 61.3. Of significant importance is that the sensitivity of the strain sensors can be readily altered by changing the concentration of the precursor (i.e., an aqueous dispersion of graphene oxide) and the freezing temperature used to process the GA. The results reveal that these two parameters control the cell size and cell-wall thickness of the resultant GA, which may be correlated to the observed variations in the sensitivities of the strain sensors. The higher is the concentration of graphene oxide, then the lower is the sensitivity of the resultant nanocomposite strain sensor. Upon increasing the freezing temperature from -196 to -20 °C, the sensitivity increases and reaches a maximum value of 61.3 at -50 °C and then decreases with a further increase in freezing temperature to -20 °C. Furthermore, the strain sensors offer excellent durability and stability, with their piezoresistivities remaining virtually unchanged even after 10 000 cycles of high-strain loading-unloading. These novel findings pave the way to custom design strain sensors with a desirable piezoresistive behavior.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2021
Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
Date: 2021
DOI: 10.1039/D0QM00961J
Abstract: The application of reversible addition–fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) agents in stereolithographic 3D printing has been seldom reported due to their tendency to reduce polymerization rates.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2013
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2021
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 12-01-2010
DOI: 10.1002/POLB.21902
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2010
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 15-06-2020
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 22-06-2022
DOI: 10.1038/S41467-022-31095-9
Abstract: Although 3D printing allows the macroscopic structure of objects to be easily controlled, controlling the nanostructure of 3D printed materials has rarely been reported. Herein, we report an efficient and versatile process for fabricating 3D printed materials with controlled nanoscale structural features. This approach uses resins containing macromolecular chain transfer agents (macroCTAs) which microphase separate during the photoinduced 3D printing process to form nanostructured materials. By varying the chain length of the macroCTA, we demonstrate a high level of control over the microphase separation behavior, resulting in materials with controllable nanoscale sizes and morphologies. Importantly, the bulk mechanical properties of 3D printed objects are correlated with their morphologies transitioning from discrete globular to interpenetrating domains results in a marked improvement in mechanical performance, which is ascribed to the increased interfacial interaction between soft and hard domains. Overall, the findings of this work enable the simplified production of materials with tightly controllable nanostructures for broad potential applications.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2022
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2013
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 09-11-2019
DOI: 10.1002/PC.25424
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2018
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2016
DOI: 10.1016/J.JCIS.2016.06.030
Abstract: Silkworm silk fibers are core-shell composites of fibroin and sericin proteins. Studying the interactions between fibroin and sericin is essential for understanding the properties of these composites. It is observed that compared to the domestic silk cocoon Bombyx mori (B. mori), the adhesion between fibroin and sericin from the wild silk cocoon, Antheraea pernyi (A. pernyi), is significantly stronger with a higher degree of heterogeneity. The adsorption of A. pernyi sericin on its fibroin is almost twice the value for B. mori sericin on fibroin, both showing a monolayer Langmuir adsorption. (1)H NMR and FTIR studies demonstrate on a molecular level the stronger interactions and the more intensive complex formation between A. pernyi fibroin and sericin, facilitated by the hydrogen bonding between glycine and serine. The findings of this study may help the design of composites with superior interfacial adhesion between different components.
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 21-09-2022
Abstract: Natural fibre biopolymer composites with both fibres and matrix being derived from biomaterials are increasingly used in demanding applications, such as sensing, packaging, building, and transport, and require good electrical, thermal, and flame retardant properties. Herein, an investigation of the effectiveness of functionalising nonwoven cotton oly(lactic acid) (PLA) fibre mats with graphene oxide nanosheets has been reported by using a facile dip-coating method followed by thermal reduction for enhancing the electric, thermal, and abrasion-resistance properties. The manufacturing processes for preparing biocomposites and introducing functionality are readily scalable. Experimental results reveal that with the addition of less than 0.5 wt% graphene nanoplatelets, the biocomposites showed significant improvements in abrasion resistance, electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, and diffusivity. Furthermore, the composite shows excellent piezo-resistivity to act as strain sensors with a gauge factor of 2.59 at strains up to 1%.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 19-03-2009
DOI: 10.1002/APP.30132
Location: Australia
Start Date: 2016
End Date: 2018
Funder: Cotton Research and Development Corporation
View Funded ActivityStart Date: 2014
End Date: 2016
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityStart Date: 2020
End Date: 2021
Funder: University of New South Wales
View Funded ActivityStart Date: 2018
End Date: 2018
Funder: Cotton Research and Development Corporation
View Funded ActivityStart Date: 2021
End Date: 2025
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityStart Date: 2021
End Date: 2023
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityStart Date: 2021
End Date: 01-2024
Amount: $480,000.00
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityStart Date: 2024
End Date: 12-2027
Amount: $939,401.00
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityStart Date: 11-2023
End Date: 11-2026
Amount: $262,168.00
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityStart Date: 2014
End Date: 06-2017
Amount: $382,000.00
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded ActivityStart Date: 08-2022
End Date: 07-2027
Amount: $5,000,000.00
Funder: Australian Research Council
View Funded Activity