Fabrication and Mechanical Performance of Glass Fiber Reinforced, Three‐phase, Epoxy Syntactic Foam

Abstract

In the selection of materials for deep‐sea equipment, light weight and high strength are the most important criteria or requirements. In this paper, hollow glass microspheres (HGMS), expanded polystyrene (EPS), epoxy resin (EP) and curing agent were mixed to prepare hollow glass microspheres reinforced epoxy foam balls (HGMS‐EHS) by the rolling ball method. Glass fiber (GF) reinforced epoxy syntactic foam (GF‐ESF) was prepared by mixing HGMS‐EHS, HGMS, EP, GF, and curing agent using compression moulding method. By analyzing the mechanical properties and microscopic morphology of GF‐ESF, the results show that the addition of GF does enhance the compressive strength of epoxy syntactic foam. GF‐ESF has a density of 496 kg/m3, and its compressive strength is 30.48 MPa. By increasing the number of layers of HGMS‐EHS, the diameter of EPS, the density of HGMS and reducing the stacking volume of HGMS‐EHS, the density of ESF increased significantly thus subsequently increase the compressive strength. Therefore, the compressive strength and density should be considered comprehensively and find the best balance point in the process of preparing ESF. This paper could provide some suggestions for the preparation of deep‐sea epoxy composites.

Compressive Properties of Basalt Fibers and Polypropylene Fiber-Reinforced Lightweight Concrete

“…When lightweight concrete is impacted by an external force, the force is rapidly transferred from the concrete matrix to the GFR-EMS and from the GFR-EMS to the cement matrix or another GFR-EMS. 43 The strength of the GFR-EMS is lower than that of the cementitious matrix. Damage begins with the GFR-EMS and then passes rapidly to the next GFR-EMS or the adjacent matrix above.…”

“…Some of the GFR-EMS were connected to each other close to form lines. When lightweight concrete is impacted by an external force, the force is rapidly transferred from the concrete matrix to the GFR-EMS and from the GFR-EMS to the cement matrix or another GFR-EMS . The strength of the GFR-EMS is lower than that of the cementitious matrix.…”

Understanding the Effect of Interfacial Interphase on the Elastic Response of Hollow Glass Microsphere Reinforced Microcomposites

“…The composites exhibited electromagnetic interference shielding properties whilst the HGMSs acted as materials to fill up the vacancies generated by the network of carbon fibers. Jiang et al [18] have recently revealed their work on the use of HGMSs in reinforcing expanded polystyrene (EPS) and epoxy resin (EP) to develop compression molded foam balls of enhanced compressive strength. In another study, Altay et al [19] incorporated HGMSs together with polystyrene (PS) microfiber membrane to examine the effect of HGMSs on the thermal insulation and sound absorption insulation behavior of glass fiber fabric-reinforced epoxy composites.…”