Centrifugation and index matching yield a strong and transparent bioinspired nacreous composite.

Abstract

Glasses have numerous applications because of their exceptional transparency and stiffness; however, poor fracture, impact resistance, and mechanical reliability limit the range of their applications. Recent bioinspired glasses have shown superior mechanical performance, but they still suffer from reduced optical quality. Here, we present a nacreous glass composite that offers a combination of strength, toughness, and transparency. Micrometer-sized glass tablets and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) were mixed and structured by centrifugation, creating dense PMMA-glass layers. A transparent composite was created by tuning the refractive index of PMMA to that of glass and using chemical functionalization to create continuous interfaces. The fabrication method is robust and scalable, and the composite may prove to be a glass alternative in diverse applications.