Nanostructured Composites with Layered Morphology: Structure and Properties

Using different microscopic techniques, we investigate the morphology and the micro-deformation processes in two entirely different classes of polymer based composites: natural biocomposites and synthetic polymer composites. The emphasis has been put on the comparison of the micromechanical properties of those composite materials. In the natural layered composites exemplified by human cortical bone, analogous to the synthetic glassy polymers, craze-like deformation zones were formed. A strong dependence of deformation mechanisms (such as transition from formation of single crazes to multiple crazing behaviour) on the layer dimension was observed in the layered composites made up of different amorphous polymers.