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Nanoclay‐reinforced syntactic foams: Flexure and thermal behavior
Author(s) -
Saha Mrinal C.,
Nilufar Sabrina
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
polymer composites
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.577
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1548-0569
pISSN - 0272-8397
DOI - 10.1002/pc.20918
Subject(s) - syntactic foam , materials science , glass microsphere , composite material , flexural strength , epoxy , modulus , thermal expansion , flexural modulus , void (composites) , fabrication , thermal , dynamic mechanical analysis , microsphere , polymer , medicine , alternative medicine , physics , pathology , chemical engineering , meteorology , engineering
Abstract Syntactic foams containing 60 vol% of hollow glass microballoons in epoxy matrix are modified with untreated nanoclays using combined mechanical and ultrasonication methods. Effects of nanoclays on flexure and thermal behavior of syntactic foams are investigated by adding different amount of nanoclays in the range of 1–3% by weight. Microscopic examinations and physical property characterization are performed to determine the interactions among constituent materials and the void formation during fabrication. It is found that the syntactic foams with 2 wt% nanoclays show the highest improvement in flexural properties (∼42% strength and ∼18% modulus) and dynamic mechanical properties (∼30% storage modulus and ∼28% loss modulus) properties. Thermal decomposition temperature is found to be unaffected by the addition of nanoclays, whereas a continuous reduction in the coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) is observed. An examination of failure surface indicates that the failure is initiated on the tension side of the flexure sample due to fracturing of microballoons. POLYM. COMPOS., 31:1332–1342, 2010. © 2009 Society of Plastics Engineers