• Agarwal, Komal

Abstract

Electrospun fibers have shown tremendous potential for advanced development of high-performance composites. Large surface areas afforded by the smaller-diameter fibers have the potential to promote close interaction with the matrix leading to the fabrication of stronger and tougher composites. A considerable amount of work has been carried out over the past decade or so to use electrospun fibers for composite reinforcement. This chapter reviews some of the recent advances made in using electrospinning for the development of next-generation fiber-reinforced composites. Additionally, the potential of electrospinning is also presented for mimicking helicoidal fibrous structures identified in the exoskeleton of some of the species such as mantis shrimp and lobsters. Most of these naturally occurring helicoidal composites are a combination of two phases, namely fibers and matrix. The fiber material and its properties play a very important role in enhancing the strength and toughness of resulting composites. Many attempts have been made in the past to produce such helicoidal architectures, mostly at a macroscopic range. In this chapter, the potential of electrospinning to fabricate such fiber layout is particularly highlighted. These helicoidal fibrous structures produced using electrospinning can then be embedded into a matrix to create bioinspired and impact-resistant composites.

Topics

• impedance spectroscopy
• surface
• phase
• strength
• electrospinning
• fiber-reinforced composite