Structurally Efficient Composite Concepts with Non-Traditional Load-Paths

"Structural biomaterials such as bones, shells and teeth occur as composite materials with outstanding properties embraced by their multi-component composition. The biological structures that have survived offer complex structures and compositions whichoptimally meet the demands of their environment. Conventional composite processing schemes cannot reproduce the exquisite ultrastructure of biomaterials. Therefore, biomimetic processing routes are needed to generate new composites which match thecomplexity and efficiency of structural biomaterials. In an approach inspired by the development of bone structure, we propose to use a high-performance cellular (e.g., microcellular carbon) structure as the framework for controlled deposition of variousstructural and functional monolayers in an aqueous environment. We will employ the ionic self-assembled monolayer (ISAM) technique to develop a complex multilayer architecture with detailed molecular-level control over its composition and microstructure.This approach yields the following advantages: (a) the efficiency of cellular structures in terms of specific stiffness, strength and toughness; (b) the versatility of processing in an aqueous environment using a cellular framework (direct net-shapeproduction of complex geometries without joints, introduction of compositional gradients simulating sandwich structures, and convenient introduction of prestressing effects to enhance structural