A novel method of biomimetic surface modification was used for aramid fibres aiming to enhance the interface properties between epoxy resin and the modified aramid fibre. Inspired by the composition of adhesive proteins in mussels, a thin layer of poly(dopamine) (PDA) was self-polymerized onto the surface of the aramid fibre. The graphene oxide (GO) was then grafted on the surface of PDA-coated aramid fibres. The microstructure and chemical characteristics of the pristine and modified fibres were characterised using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), indicating successful grafting of GO on the PDA-coated aramid fibres. Single fibre tensile test and microbond test were carried out to evaluate the mechanical properties of the modified fibres. It was found that the fibre surface modification improved the interfacial shear strength by 210% and the fibre tensile strength was protected by GO-PDA coating.

Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) suture can be absorbed by the human body, and so have wide applications in modern surgery operations. The degradation period of PLA suture is expected to meet with the healing time of different types of wounds. In order to control the degradation period of the PLA suture, the carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were composited with PLA suture, and the degradation experiment in vitro was performed on sutures. The structure and properties of sutures during degradation, such as surface morphology, breaking strength, elongation, mass and chemical structure, were tracked and analyzed. The results indicated that the degradation brought about surface defects and resulted in 13.5 weeks for the strength valid time of the original PLA suture. By contrast, the strength valid time of the CNTs/PLA suture was increased to 26.6 weeks. Whilst the toughness of both the pure PLA and CNTs/PLA sutures decreased rapidly and almost disappeared after 3 to 4 weeks of degradation. The mass loss demonstrated that the time required for complete degradation of the two sutures was obviously different, the pure PLA suture 49 weeks, while CNTs/PLA sutures 63 to 73 weeks. The research proved that CNTs delayed PLA degradation and prolonged its strength valid time in degradation.

The currently used high-performance fiber materials for soft body armor have very low surface friction and this has become an issue in the effectiveness of ballistic energy absorption. In this study, non-polymerizing reactive plasma gas N₂ and chemical vapor (CH₃)₂Cl₂Si were employed to modify Kevlar fabric surface for the application of ballistic impact material. Scanning electron microscopy observations yield information about the surface effect of the fabrics after plasma treatment. The surface morphology of the treated fabrics was studied. Energy-dispersive X-ray analysis was used to analyze the surface chemical properties of the treated samples. The yarn pulling-out test shows that the resistance to pulling out yarns from fabrics plasma-treated treated with N₂ and (CH₃)₂Cl₂Si plasma-treated fabric is increased 18% and 300% respectively, compared with the untreated Kevlar fabric. Finite element simulation results revealed that fabric with a higher surface coefficient of friction performs better in ballistic energy absorption.

Basalt fiber (BF) possesses some excellent properties in temperature resistance, chemical stability, sound absorption and so on. It has been applied to create composites with the polylactic acid (PLA) resin, which could be used as medical equipments, bone repairing materials, automobile shells and others. However, the compatibilities between BF and PLA are understood to be poor. In order to solve the problem, BF was treated by sodium hydroxide solution (NaOH) and then by coupling agent KH550, and the optimal concentration of NaOH was found to be 15 g/L, and the optimal KH550 dosage was 2%. The research revealed that one end of KH550 molecule was reacted with the hydroxyl groups on the surface of BF to form chemical link, and the amino group at the other end of KH550 molecule was reacted with the terminal hydroxyl group or the terminal carboxyl group of PLA molecule to form chemical link. Graphical Abstract