Bio‐inspired layer‐by‐layer assembled hybrid films for improvement of mechanical properties

Inspired by many strong, toughness, and stiffness materials in nature, we first present bio‐inspired structure hybrid films fabricated by layer‐by‐layer assembly technique based on low‐surface‐energy graphite micro‐sheets and styrenic block copolymers. Compared with pure polymer films, the mechanical properties of the hybrid films have been greatly modified in failure stress, elastic modulus, and failure energy due to the rigid bio‐inspired structure. After graphite micro‐sheets surface modified by dopamine, a better enhancement in mechanical properties was achieved with the assistance of dopamine surface modification in the almost same content of inorganic component. The layer‐by‐layer assembly method was improved by introducing the wet‐coating techniques that has been widely applied in industry. This improved method is more easily to fabricate large‐area hybrid films without destroying the bio‐inspired structure of the hybrid films. This improved method and bio‐inspired structure were first applied to reinforce elastomer in this work, while this bio‐inspired structure has shown great success when applied in the area of plastic. POLYM. COMPOS. 34:1261–1268, 2013. © 2013 Society of Plastics Engineers