Bioinspired foam composites resembling pomelo peel: Structural design and compressive, bursting and cushioning properties

Abstract

Inspired by pomelo peel, this study proposes bioinspired foam composites, which are prepared by one-step foaming and a combination of different fabric structures. The bioinspired composites are evaluated in terms of compression resistance, bursting strength and cushioning efficacy, thereby examining the influential mechanisms of fabric structures. The experimental results indicate that the bio-inspired composites have superior functions due to the reinforcement of a nylon fabric as well as high stiffness and energy absorption of polyurethane -based small-mesh-size spacer fabrics. The bioinspired foam composites have maximum compression resistance is 131 kPa with a corresponding strain of 60%, which is 245% greater than the control group. The deformation-absorption energy of bioinspired foam composites is 2.3 J, which is 78% greater than that of pomelo peel. The maximum bursting strength of bioinspired foam composites is 3370 N, which is two and twenty times that of the control group and pomelo peel, respectively. Compared to spacer fabrics at 0° lamination, spacer fabrics at 90° lamination has a positive influence on the bursting strength but a negative influence on compressive strength of bioinspired foam composites. Bioinspired foam composites have a peak contact force that is 45.1% lower than that of the control group, which suggests remarkable improvement in energy absorption. The resultant bioinspired composites are expected to be used as packaging and personal protective materials for commercial applications in the future.