Load Transfer Behavior of 3D Aerogels Fabricated with Halloysite Nanotubes

Nanofibrous network aerogels as an important class of porous material have received enormous attention in materials research. However, the fabrication of nanofibrous network aerogels with short fiber as building blocks is extremely challenging, since it is difficult for them to build 3D network structures spontaneously from the topological point of view. Here the synthesis and load transfer behavior of 3D aerogels composed of halloysite nanotube (HNT) short fibers are described. The resulting aerogels take inorganic materials as the skeleton, elastic organic materials as the connection point, and exhibit inorganic/organic phase interfaces. Confocal Raman microscopy system is utilized to investigate the structural-dynamic profile of halloysite clay aerogels (HCAs) under applied load. The results indicate that the deformation mainly occurs in the polysiloxane (PSO) molecular chain connected with the HNT skeleton. HCAs have a certain load transfer capability, and the PSO chains between tubes are strong enough to support the HCA skeleton.