Tensile, thermal and dynamic mechanical properties of hollow polymer particle-filled epoxy syntactic foam

Four types of hollow polymer particles have been employed as fillers in UV-heat-cured epoxy resin. The effects of filler volume fraction and types on tensile properties of syntactic foams are investigated. All hollow particle types have exhibited approximately the same size, but with different groups on particle surface. Volume fraction of hollow particles for the syntactic foams varies up to 0.25. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), and tensile tests have been performed. According to TGA and DMA test results, the addition of polymer particle leads to stronger interfacial particles-matrix interaction and high loss factor. Tensile tests have also shown that tensile strength and specific properties of all foams decrease with the increasing of particle content. In terms of tensile properties, the particles-matrix compatibility is more significant than that of the surface functional groups of particles.     

复合泡沫塑料模量和屈服强度的理论预测

基于广义自洽原理，利用四相球模型研究了复合泡沫塑料在拉伸加载下的力学性能，并对其可能发生的破坏进行了分析，发现模型退化后给出的泡沫材料强度预测结果与实验值符合较好。通过分析微珠与基体界面的法向应力集中系数和基体相的von Mises应力分布，可以发现，当微珠壁极薄时，微珠的力学行为与实心柔性粒子相似，随着微珠壁厚的增加，微珠对材料整体力学行为的影响与实心刚性粒子的影响接近相同。通过引入破坏影响因子，对复合泡沫塑料的强度预测进行研究，提出了一种有效的预测方法。     

连续石墨纤维增强铝基复合材料准静态拉伸损伤演化与断裂力学行为

针对连续石墨纤维增强铝基(CF/Al)复合材料,采用三种纤维排布方式的代表体积单元(RVE)建立了其细观力学有限元模型,采用准静态拉伸试验与数值模拟结合的方法,研究了其在轴向拉伸载荷下的渐进损伤与断裂力学行为。结果表明,采用基体合金和纤维原位力学性能建立的细观力学有限元模型,对轴向拉伸弹性模量和极限强度的计算结果与实验结果吻合良好,而断裂应变计算值较实验结果偏低。轴向拉伸变形中首先出现界面和基体合金损伤现象,随应变增加界面发生失效并诱发基体合金的局部失效,最后复合材料因纤维发生失效而破坏,从而出现界面脱粘后纤维拔出与基体合金撕裂共存的微观形貌。细观力学有限元分析结果表明,在复合材料制备后纤维性能衰减而强度较低条件下,改变界面强度和刚度对复合材料轴向拉伸弹塑性力学行为的影响较小,复合材料中纤维强度水平是决定该复合材料轴向拉伸力学性能的主要因素。     

Mechanical properties of graphene platelets reinforced syntactic foams

Graphene platelets (GPs) are two-dimensional thin plates containing few layers of graphene sheets. Compressive and tensile behaviors of epoxy-based syntactic foams with pristine GPs as additives are discussed in this article. Four sets of syntactic foams containing 0, 0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 vol.% of GPs were fabricated and tested. The volume fraction of microballoons in all syntactic foam samples was kept constant at 30%. Results indicated that the compressive and tensile moduli of the syntactic foams were significantly improved as compared to samples that did not contain GPs. The addition of GPs also enhanced the tensile strength while the compressive strength was only slightly increased. Optimal property improvements were obtained for very low filling fraction of approximately 0.3 vol.%. Samples with higher volume fraction of GPs (0.5%) showed deterioration in mechanical properties when compared to other GP containing samples. Transmission microscopy study indicated formation of voids enclosed by undispersed GPs in the samples which could explain the decline of the properties. High matrix porosity could also play an important role in this observation. Utilizing surface modified GPs could allow incorporation of higher volume fraction of GPs homogeneously, thus improving the mechanical properties of the syntactic foams.     

空心微珠填充聚氨酯泡沫塑料的力学性能

对不同密度和不同填充质量比的空心玻璃微珠填充聚氨酯泡沫塑料进行拉、压实验,研究了微珠对复合泡沫塑料力学性能的影响。实验结果表明:复合泡沫塑料拉伸曲线特征与普通泡沫塑料类似,但具有不同于普通泡沫塑料的压缩应力-应变特性;材料密度越大,微珠对胞体壁的增强效果越好;微珠团聚和界面粘结不良将可能导致材料力学性能的下降。根据有限元模拟结果和试件破坏形貌的观察探讨了材料的变形和破坏机制。      

Comparison of tensile and compressive characteristics of vinyl ester/glass microballoon syntactic foams

The present study is focused on the synthesis and characterization of vinyl ester/glass microballoon syntactic foams. Tensile and compressive properties of vinyl ester matrix syntactic foams are characterized. Results show that the compressive strength and moduli of several syntactic foam compositions are comparable to those of the neat matrix resin. Due to the lower density of syntactic foams, the specific compressive properties of all compositions are higher than those of the neat resin. Similar trends are observed in the tensile properties. Mechanical properties of vinyl ester matrix syntactic foams are compared to well-documented mechanical properties of epoxy matrix systems. The comparison shows that low cost vinyl ester resins, which are extensively used in marine applications, can result in syntactic foams with comparable performance to epoxy matrix systems. In addition, tensile modulus is found to be 15–30% higher than the compressive modulus for all syntactic foam compositions. This difference is related to the possibility of particle fracture in the stress range where modulus is calculated in the compressive stress–strain curves.     

Mechanical behavior of pure Al and Al–Mg syntactic foam composites containing glass cenospheres

Glass cenospheres were used as space holders for making aluminum matrix syntactic foams by pressure infiltration technique. The mechanical properties and failure behavior of cenospheres/Al syntactic foams with pure Al and Al–Mg alloys were investigated in the present work. The failure behavior of cenospheres in two syntactic foams was similar. However, the mechanical behavior of these two syntactic foams was different. Under compression process, the cenospheres/pure Al showed discontinuous shear band and drum shape, while cenospheres/Al–Mg exhibited continuous shear band and was divided by main shear zone. At the tensile state, the cenospheres in pure Al matrix syntactic foam debonded from the matrix, while the cenospheres in Al–Mg matrix syntactic foam was well-bonded and appeared to lamellar tearing. It is suggested that the difference of mechanical deformation behavior could be attributed to the matrix ductility and the forming of interfacial reaction product MgAl₂O₄ coatings.     

空心微球/环氧树脂复合泡沫塑料的抗压性能与破坏机制

以环氧树脂为基体, 不同粒径空心玻璃微球为填充体, 制备了轻质高强复合泡沫塑料。通过单轴准静态压缩试验研究了空心微球的粒径大小对复合泡沫塑料的抗压性能的影响, 并采用SEM对复合泡沫塑料的微观结构进行观测。通过随机空间分布法建立了空心玻璃微球/环氧树脂复合泡沫塑料的实体模型, 并且使用有限元分析软件对复合泡沫塑料在1 kPa载荷下的应力分布进行了分析。结果表明, 在相同体积含量下, 当空心微球的粒径从30 μm增大到120 μm时, 复合泡沫塑料的抗压强度无明显变化。有限元分析的结果表明, 在复合泡沫塑料中主要承载部分为空心微球, 空心微球上的应力大于树脂基体上的应力。最大应力分布在空心微球的内壁, 结合SEM图像可推测, 空心微球在破裂之前受到充分的挤压, 并且从内壁产生裂纹。     

Effects of interphase properties in unidirectional fiber reinforced composite materials

A micromechanical study has been performed to investigate the mechanical properties of unidirectional fiber reinforced composite materials under transverse tensile loading. In particular, the effects of different properties of interphase within the representative volume element (RVE) on both the transverse effective properties and damage behavior of the composites have been studied. In order to evaluate the effects of interphase properties on the mechanical behaviors of unidirectional fiber reinforced composites considering random distribution of fibers, the interphase is represented by pre-inserted cohesive element layer between matrix and fiber with tension and shear softening constitutive laws. Results indicate a strong dependence of the RVE transverse effective properties on the interphase properties. Furthermore, both the damage initiation and its evolution are also clearly influenced by the interphase properties.     

空心玻璃微球含量对环氧复合泡沫塑料性能的影响

以空心玻璃微球（HGM）填充环氧树脂制备了密度为0.56~0.91 g/cm3的HGM/环氧复合泡沫塑料。研究了HGM含量对复合泡沫塑料黏度、力学性能、动态力学性能及隔热性能的影响。结果表明:表面偶联处理后增加了HGM的表面亲油性,改善了其与基体树脂间的相容性和界面性能,有利于HGM/环氧复合泡沫塑料性能的提高;体系黏度与HGM含量呈正相关,与温度呈负相关;随着HGM含量的增加,HGM/环氧复合泡沫塑料的压缩强度、弯曲强度和拉伸强度均有一定程度的降低,但是比强度变化不大,材料得到很大程度的轻质化;HGM的引入使得HGM/环氧复合泡沫塑料玻璃化转变温度向低温方向偏移,储能模量呈现先减小后增加的趋势,导热系数由纯环氧树脂的0.203 W/（m·K）减小到HGM含量为40wt%时的0.126 W/（m·K）。HGM/环氧复合泡沫塑料阻尼性能和隔热性能均有所提高。      

考虑界面效应的复合泡沫塑料弹性性能数值仿真预测与试验研究

通过对不同空心陶瓷微珠含量的环氧基复合泡沫塑料进行准静态拉伸实验, 研究了填充微珠的体积分数对复合泡沫塑料弹性模量和泊松比的影响。基于其细观结构特征, 利用三维立方单胞有限元模型模拟了细观应力/应变场; 将内聚力单元引入细观有限元模型, 以此来模拟空心微珠与基体材料之间界面相的力学行为。将有限元预测结果以及两种传统的细观解析法与实验数据对比, 发现基于界面理想粘接假设的有限元模型和传统细观解析法均过高估计了复合泡沫塑料的弹性模量和泊松比; 复合泡沫塑料的弹性性能强烈地依赖于界面相的力学性质, 只有考虑界面效应的细观有限元模型才能给出较为精确的预测, 从而验证了文中细观建模方法的合理性。     

三维六向编织复合材料渐进损伤模拟及强度预测

基于三维六向编织复合材料的细观结构,假设第六向纱线的截面形状为菱形,建立了三维六向编织复合材料的渐进损伤有限元模型。采用Linde等提出的失效准则,引入周期性位移边界条件,对三维六向编织复合材料的纵向拉伸应力-应变行为进行了渐进损伤数值模拟,讨论了单胞模型在纵向拉伸载荷作用下的细观损伤起始、扩展和最终失效的演化过程,并预测了材料的拉伸强度。在此基础上,进一步研究了编织角、纤维体积分数和编织纱水平取向角等参数对材料纵向拉伸力学性能的影响规律。研究结果表明,三维六向编织复合材料的轴向纱线拉伸断裂是导致其破坏的最主要因素。所得数值结果与现有试验值吻合较好,验证了该模型的有效性,为更深入研究此类材料的力学性能奠定了基础。     

Effect of carbon nanofibers on tensile and compressive characteristics of hollow particle filled composites

The effect of presence of carbon nanofibers on the tensile and compressive properties of hollow particle filled composites is studied. Such composites, called syntactic foams, are known to have high specific modulus and low moisture absorption capabilities and are finding applications as core materials in aerospace and marine sandwich structures. The results of this study show that addition of 0.25 wt.% carbon nanofibers results in improvement in tensile modulus and strength compared to similar syntactic foam compositions that did not contain nanofibers. Compressive modulus decreased and strength remained largely unchanged for most compositions. Tensile and compressive failure features are analyzed using scanning electron microscopy.     

Aluminum–ceramic cenospheres syntactic foams produced by powder metallurgy route

Aluminum–cenospheres syntactic foams of different compositions and varying relative densities were fabricated by powder metallurgy using a low compaction load (ranging from 200 MPa to 300 MPa). The produced composites were examined in terms of density, porosity, macro- and micro-structural characteristics. Mechanical properties of the sintered samples, like compressive strength and deformation mechanisms, quasi-elastic modulus and absorbed energy were also investigated. A novel theoretical model reflecting the compressive strength of aluminum–cenospheres syntactic foams was developed with respect to the production conditions (compact pressure) of the “green body”. Finally, the influence of the powder metallurgy route on the deformation mechanisms and fracture strength of the metal matrix syntactic foams was elicited, providing refined insight to optimum production parameters. The yielded results stipulate that characteristic properties like porosity inhomogeneity or insufficient bonding between matrix particles have a direct impact on the final properties of metal syntactic foams. As the compact pressure and the volume fraction of the cenospheres increases, composites exhibit a mechanical response typical of metal matrix syntactic foams.     

Determination of Dynamic Modulus of Syntactic and Particulate Foams by a Non‐Destructive Approach

Abstract: Developments in aviation posed requirement of lightweight, high strength and highly damage‐tolerant materials. Sandwich‐structured composites fulfilling these requirements have become the first choice for many aerospace applications as well as structural components for ground transport and marine vessels. Sandwich composites are a special class of composite materials which are widely used because of their high specific strength and high bending stiffness. Syntactic foams, which are hollow particle‐filled core materials used in sandwich composites, have recently emerged as attractive material for applications requiring low weight, low moisture absorption and high insulation properties. Quasi‐static and dynamic properties of these syntactic foams are commonly determined though various destructive techniques such as quasi‐static compression and split Hopkinson pressure bar testing. However, there is a need for characterising these materials non‐destructively in the field. The present study focuses on the prediction of dynamic Young's modulus using ultrasonic testing in various types of hollow particle‐reinforced syntactic foam and solid particulate composites. Hollow particle‐filled syntactic foams and solid particulate composites are fabricated with three different volume fractions of 10%, 30% and 60%. Longitudinal and shear wave velocities are used for calculating the dynamic modulus. Effect of longitudinal attenuation behaviour along with longitudinal and shear wave velocities on the varying density and volume fraction of syntactic foams is also discussed.     

Novel syntactic foams made of ceramic hollow micro-spheres and starch: theory,structure and properties

Novel syntactic foams for potential building material applications were developed using starch as binder and ceramic hollow micro-spheres available as waste from coal-fire power stations. Foams of four different micro-sphere size groups were manufactured with either pre- or post-mould gelatinization process. They were of ternary system including voids with a foam density range of approximately 0.33–0.44 g/cc. Compressive failure behaviour and mechanical properties of the manufactured foams were evaluated. Not much difference in failure behaviour or in mechanical properties between the two different processes (pre- and post-mould gels) was found for a given binder content. Compressive failure of all syntactic foams was of shear on plane inclined 45° to compressive loading direction. Failure surfaces of most syntactic foams were characterized by debonded micro-spheres. Compressive strength and modulus of syntactic foams were found to be dependant mainly on binder content but mostly independent of micro-sphere size. Some conditions of relativity arising from properties of constituents leading to the rule of mixtures relationships for compressive strength and to understanding of compressive/transitional failure behaviour were developed. The developed relationships based on the rule of mixtures were partially verified. Some formation of starch webs on failure surfaces was discussed.     

Effect of low-density filler on mechanical properties of syntactic foams of cyanate ester

Syntactic foam composites of cyanate ester with varying volume fractions of resin and glass microballoon were processed and evaluated for tensile, flexural and compressive properties. The effect of nature and volume fraction of microballoon on the mechanical properties was studied. The mechanical properties showed a gradual decrease in strength with increase in volume fraction of microballoon. The specific strength values also manifested a similar order. A similar behaviour was observed for syntactic foams with microballoons of varying true density. The properties increased proportional to the strength of the microballoon in resin-rich systems implying a strong microballoon-resin interface, corroborated by Scanning Electron Microscopy studies. The compressive modulus showed a decreasing trend with enhanced microballoon loading.     

三维角联锁机织铝基复合材料面内拉伸力学行为与失效机制

针对真空压力浸渗法制备的三维角联锁机织铝基复合材料,采用细观力学有限元模拟与试验结合的方法研究了其面内拉伸变形损伤与断裂力学行为。结果表明:复合材料拉伸应力-应变曲线的计算与试验结果吻合较好,经(纬)向拉伸初始弹性模量、极限强度和断裂应变的计算误差分别为3.96%(1.11%)、1.40%(6.86%)和?5.49%(3.73%);经向拉伸载荷作用下,经纱界面及其邻近基体合金先后发生损伤,随拉伸应变增加损伤累积和交互作用依次引发界面、基体和纬纱失效,变形后期经纱的断裂最终导致复合材料经向拉伸失效;纬向拉伸变形前期,经纱界面和经纬纱之间薄弱的基体合金相继产生损伤和失效现象,经纱在变形中期即出现横向破坏,起主要承载作用的纬纱轴向断裂是纬向拉伸的主要失效机制,由于三维角联锁机织体中纬纱体分远低于经纱,复合材料纬向拉伸模量和强度分别仅为经向的81.8%和56.5%。      

高抗冲聚苯乙烯多处银纹化RVE模拟

通过在代表性体积胞元(RVE)中嵌入内聚力面,建立了基于连续损伤力学的高抗冲聚苯乙烯多处银纹化细观机理模型。采用Quads准则作为内聚力面失效判据,引入材料刚度退化模型,利用非线性有限元方法研究了在单向拉伸载荷下高抗冲聚苯乙烯中银纹的萌生、生长和断裂过程及其规律。数值分析结果与实验中观察到的现象吻合较好,表明了本模型描述的内聚力面模拟银纹化过程的合理性。     

固体浮力材料用复合泡沫的研究进展EI北大核心CSCD

浮力材料作为深海装置中一种重要的配重材料,能够对水下作业的设备起到浮力补偿的作用。固体浮力材料因密度低、强度高、吸水率低等特性近年来在深海测量、石油勘测、深海开发等领域受到广泛关注。本文首先简述了固体浮力材料及其应用背景,围绕其分类主要阐述了化学泡沫材料和复合泡沫材料的特点,并基于未来发展方向和应用前景,重点介绍了复合泡沫材料。以复合泡沫类型的固体浮力材料为核心,根据其基本组成,分别介绍了金属基、陶瓷基、树脂基及其他类型复合泡沫材料,综述了其组成、表界面微结构、外界加载速率等影响因素对物理性能、力学性能的影响规律,借助扫描断层显微技术和有限元方法分析破坏模式,揭示材料在不同加载速率下的力学行为和失效机理。本文在提高复合泡沫材料整体力学性能及先进实验表征方法方面提出展望:可通过修饰填料和树脂基体官能团的方法或加入第二增强相,提高材料整体力学性能;借助μ-CT和扫描电子显微镜,表征材料微观结构,揭示破坏机理。