Piezoelectric Nanofibers are Stronger Than Kevlar

Mar-31-15 Engineers have created a piezoelectric nanofiber that can stretch up to seven times its length and remain tougher than Kevlar.

The nanofibers were inspired by the piezoelectric action seen in the collagen fibers in human bone, which works to reinforce the fibers via an electric charge. They spun two known piezoelectric fibers, piepolyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and polyvinvylidene fluoride trifluoroethylene (PVDF-TrFE, into nanofibers, then twisted those fibers to create yarn and coils.

When the yarn is stretched, it will create an electrical charge that bonds the fibers to each other with an attraction ten times greater than a hydrogen bond (considered one of the strongest forces between two molecules). The team is now working on ways to weave larger structures from the coils.

Image: Majid Minary/UT Dallas

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