Model and Fabrication of Biomimetic Integrated Porous Core Laminated Composite

Abstract

This paper deals with imitating a novel type of biomimetic integrated composite with porous core layer from the beetle elytra microstructures. Firstly,the microstructures of the elytron of Anoplophora Glabripennis, Anomala Corpulenta Motschulsky, Prosopocoilus Inclinatus and Melolonthidae were examined with SEM. Inspired by these structure characteristics, a biomimetic composite model was proposed, in which the two face layers were interconnected with a porous core layer, and there are continuous fibers embedded into these three layers to enhance mechanical performance of the laminated composite. Then a specimen of this laminated composite with porous core layer was made. The procedures include: weaving a piece of two layers space fabric by glass fibers as the preform of the composite,filling the mixed resin which contained 50% granular paraffin wax and 50% epoxy resin into the space of the fabric, putting it into a flat mold, keeping 36 hours, and finally heating the composite to remove the paraffin wax to form the porous core layer. The experiment showed that the model of integrated porous core laminated composite inspired by the beetle elytra structure is reasonable and this novel type of lightweight composite material was manufacturable.