Development of a Polymer Based Syntactic Foam for High Temperature Applications

Abstract

Syntactic foams are one of the most widely used close cell structured foams. They are used in applications for naval, aeronautical, aerospace, civil, industrial, and automotive engineering due to good acoustical attenuation, excellent strength to weight ratio, vibration isolation, and dielectric properties. These foams are fabricated by incorporation of hollow particles in a matrix material. The most preferred matrix materials are polymers. In this study silicone resin (useful temperature range −53• C to 232• C) was selected as a binder material. Glass bubbles were incorporated into the silicone resin at three dierent mass percentages (10%, 20%, and 30%). The density of the silicone was reduced more than 50% by 30% glass bubble contribution. The foam mechanical properties were investigated in a room temperature and after heat treatment at 500• C by quasi-static compression experiments. Microstructural transitions by the temperature raises were examined by using scanning electron microscopy pictures. It was observed that the increase of glass bubble percentage in silicone rubber enhanced the energy absorption properties in the heat treated and room temperature specimens. Plateau stress and densication amount were improved under quasi-static compression load by the glass bubble percentage increase. It can be said that developed syntactic foams can be used in heat resistant, low weight and high compression strength exigencies.

Shock response of filled corrugated sandwich structures under extreme temperatures

“…The filler material selected follows the methods and findings of Yazici et al. for its effectiveness in high temperature applications [21]. High temperature-resistant closed cell syntactic foam was produced in house using platinum cured silicone resin and A20/1000 Glass Bubbles supplied by 3M Company following the methods and findings by.…”

“…It was observed that in the cellular core, back face side foam filling improved the air shock pressure mitigation without increasing the weight. Novel materials, such as syntactic foams, show improved energy absorption and may even be used in some high-temperature applications [20][21][22][23]. Syntactic foams are comprised of particles used to enhance or modify material properties, and the particles are suspended in a matrix material ranging from rubber or elastomer, ceramics, and even metal.…”

Effect of high‐temperature treatment on the mechanical and thermal properties of phenolic syntactic foams

“…Zhou et al added hollow polymer and carbon microspheres prepared by spray drying into phenolic to fabricate low‐density syntactic foams and investigated the compressive strength. Yazici et al developed glass bubble/silicon rubber composites and detected compressive properties with respect to particle percentage variation under high and room temperatures. Tagliavia et al studied the effect of wall thickness and volume fraction of hollow inclusions on flexural strength of vinyl ester syntactic foams.…”

Fabrication of Silicone Rubber Foam with Tailored Porous Structures by Supercritical CO2

“…Silicone rubber foam is an elastomer combining the advantages of silicone rubber and foam, which exhibits a variety of excellent properties, such as low density, heat and cold resistance, good electrical insulation, and biocompatibility, and has wide application in the areas of aerospace, transportation, and medical treatment, etc. [1][2][3][4] The properties of silicone rubber foam are highly dependent on the cell size and cell density, which are relevant to the use of foaming agents that can be either chemical or physical in the preparation of silicone rubber foam, which are crucial and necessary. For well dispersion, easy controlled decomposition temperature, and producing foam with uniform cell structure, chemical foaming is widely used in industry.…”

“…Silicone rubber foam is an elastomer combining the advantages of silicone rubber and foam, which exhibits a variety of excellent properties, such as low density, heat and cold resistance, good electrical insulation, and biocompatibility, and has wide application in the areas of aerospace, transportation, and medical treatment, etc …”