How the Toughest Inorganic Fullerene Cages Absorb Shockwave Pressures in a Protective Nanocomposite: Experimental Evidence from Two In Situ Investigations

Abstract

Nanocomposites fabricated using the toughest caged inorganic fullerene WS (IF-WS) nanoparticles could offer ultimate protection via absorbing shockwaves; however, if the IF-WS nanomaterials really work, how they behave and what they experience within the nanocomposites at the right moment of impact have never been investigated effectively, due to the limitations of existing investigation techniques that are unable to elucidate the true characteristics of high-speed impacts in composites. We first fabricated Al matrix model nanocomposites and then unlocked the exact roles of IF-WS in it at the exact moment of impact, at a time resolution that has never been attempted before, using two in situ techniques. We find that the presence of IF-WS reduced the impact velocity by over 100 m/s and in pressure by at least 2 GPa against those Al and hexagonal WS platelet composites at an impact speed of 1000 m/s. The IF-WS composites achieved an intriguing inelastic impact and outperformed other reference composites, all originating from the "balloon effect" by absorbing the shockwave pressures. This study not only provides fundamental understanding for the dynamic performance of composites but also benefits the development of protective nanocomposite engineering.

An overview of the recent advances in inorganic nanotubes

“…Mechanical effects under transient loads have been investigated only scarcely. Probably, the most striking observation was recently reported, 160 whereby a projectile with a speed of some 1000 m/s hit an aluminum foil target filled with IF-WS 2 nanoparticles. The authors found that the presence of IF-WS 2 in the foil led to a moderation of the impact velocity by over 100 m/s and reduced the transient pressure by at least 2 GPa compared with the reference (Al foil loaded with WS 2 platelets).…”

Biological interactions of biocompatible and water-dispersed MoS2 nanosheets with bacteria and human cells

“…J. H. Appel et al . reported on the interactions of naked MoS 2 nanosheets, obtained by mechanical exfoliation and chemical vapor deposition, with human epithelial kidney cells (HEK293f) observing low cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in their experimental conditions 38 . P. Shah et al .…”

“…Concentration dependent studies of MoS 2 nanosheets with Escherichia coli 44 , Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus 42 revealed a decrease in the bacterial survival rate with increase in dispersion concentration. On the other hand, Salmonella typhimurium (S. typhimurium) , a discretionary gastric pathogen which is responsible for food poisoning in humans resulting in gastroentertitis 45 and represents a very dangerous gram negative bacterium, was studied only quite recently until now in its interaction with bare MoS 2 nanosheets 38 , 42 , 46 – 48 .…”

Nanotechnology for military applications: A survey of recent research in Military technical institute

“…In order to achieve additional reinforcement of ballistic composite systems new technologies are developed. One of the ways to enhance protective performance of these composites is to add nanofillers of different properties and structures and tungsten disulfide is among them [36][37][38][39].…”