Fiber networks with inter-fiber adhesion: role of adhesion in extreme network mechanics

Many soft materials of biological and industrial interest are composed from nanofibers. In such cases, inter-fiber adhesion may produce fiber bundling and organization on scales larger than that of individual components. We study both non-cross-linked [1] and cross-linked [2] networks with adhesive interactions between filaments. We determine the parametric range in which adhesion reorganizes the network and study the mechanical behavior of the resulting structures. We observe a broad range of tunable properties, including softening in tension, large strain range in which the structure responds linearly to applied strains, and adhesion-dependent elastic moduli. The results provide guidelines for material design and demonstrate that controlling inter-fiber adhesion may lead to fibrous materials with exceptional properties and behavior.
[1] R.C. Picu, A. Sengab, Soft Matter 14, 2254, 2018
[2] V. Negi, R.C. Picu, J. Mech. Phys. Sol. 122, 418, 2019