Structural and mechanical characterisation of nylon fibre aggregates

TL;DR

This paper investigates the structure and mechanical properties of nylon fibre aggregates formed in turbulent flow, using X-ray tomography and comparison with natural fibre aggregates, to understand their complex network behavior.

Contribution

It provides a detailed characterization of nylon fibre aggregates' 3D structure and mechanical response, highlighting differences from natural fibre aggregates.

Findings

Nylon fibre aggregates have distinct 3D structures revealed by X-ray tomography.

Mechanical responses of nylon aggregates differ from natural fibre aggregates.

Comparison with aegagropilae shows unique properties of synthetic fibre networks.

Abstract

The study of fibre networks is of great importance due to their appearance in a wide range of natural and industrial processes. These networks are particularly complex because their properties depend not only on the characteristics of individual fibres but also on their collective arrangements within the network. In this study, we investigate the case of nylon fibre aggregates that were generated in a turbulent von Karman flow. The key properties of these aggregates are characterized, including their three-dimensional structures, analysed through X-ray tomography, and their mechanical responses. The results are compared with those observed for aegagropilae, a natural fibre aggregate commonly found on the Mediterranean sea shore