Liquid marble: A novel liquid nanofoam structure for energy absorption

Abstract

The liquid nanofoam (LN), a system composed of liquid and hydrophobic nanoporous particles, is a promising energy absorbing material. Despite its excellent energy absorbing capabilities under quasi-static conditions, the LN’s performance is limited under dynamic impacts due to its heterogeneity. We hypothesize that the energy absorption capacity of the LN can be increased by reconfiguration of the material into a liquid marble form. To test this hypothesis, we have prepared the LN sample in two different configurations, one with the heterogeneous layered structure and the other with a macroscopically homogeneous liquid marble structure. The mechanical behavior of these two types of LN was examined by quasi-static compression tests and dynamic impact tests. We demonstrated that although both types of LN exhibited comparable quasi-static energy absorption capacity, the liquid marble form of LN showed better performance under dynamic impacts. These findings suggest that the liquid marble form is the preferred LN structure under blunt impact and shed lights on the design of next-generation energy absorbing materials and structures.

Effect of Extra Gas Amount on Liquid Outflow from Hydrophobic Nanochannels: Enhanced Liquid–Gas Interaction and Bubble Nucleation

“…The specific pore volume of the nanoporous silica was 700 mm 3 /g. To make its surface hydrophobic, a thin layer of chloro­(dimethyl)­octylsilane was anchored onto the nanopore surface, as previously reported. , Briefly, 1 g of silica gel was mixed with 40 mL of anhydrous toluene. Chloro­(dimethyl)­octylsilane (10 mL) and pyridine (1 mL) were then injected into the mixture.…”

“…As the external load is removed, the intruded liquid can be fully or partially expelled from the hydrophobic nanochannels. 12,13 Because of its highly hysteretic mechanical response, tremendous amount of energy is mitigated by the LN system. With the liquid outflow, the LN system recovers its energy mitigation capacity and is capable of mitigating repetitive impacts.…”

“…Especially, forced liquid flow in hydrophobic nanochannels is employed as a novel mechanism for energy storage and mitigation in a liquid nanofoam (LN) system. − In an LN system composed of a hydrophobic nanoporous media and a nonwetting liquid, the liquid molecules are forced into the nanochannels when the applied external load is sufficient to overcome the capillary force. As the external load is removed, the intruded liquid can be fully or partially expelled from the hydrophobic nanochannels. , Because of its highly hysteretic mechanical response, tremendous amount of energy is mitigated by the LN system. With the liquid outflow, the LN system recovers its energy mitigation capacity and is capable of mitigating repetitive impacts.…”

Solid–Liquid Composites with High Impact Resistance

“…SLCs usually have high impact resistance through the shear-thickening properties of the liquid phase [6][7][8] and flow interactions with the solid phase [9][10][11]. Porous [12] or fabric materials [13] containing shear-thickening fluids have remarkable impact resistance owing to the prominent increase in the strength of the shear-thickening fluid at high strain rates.…”

Effect of Degassing on the Stability and Reversibility of Glycerol/ZSM-5 Zeolite System

“…Due to the ultra-large solid-liquid interface, the pressure-induced intrusion of liquid into nanopores can contribute to a highly efficient energy absorption system [7,8]. Such advanced energy absorption system has the potential application for high-performance protection devices to protect the personnel and civil infrastructures from impact [9][10][11][12][13].…”