Microstructure, Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Three-dimensional Braided Glass Fiber Reinforced Phenolic Cryogel Composites

Abstract

Phenolic cryogel plates (PCPs) and three-dimensional braided glass fiber reinforced phenolic cryogel composite plates (PCCPs) were successfully fabricated by microemulsion-templated sol gel polymerization and freeze-drying methods. Then, pore morphology, mechanical and thermal properties of the composites were investigated. The experimental results showed that the aerogels made by freeze-drying method had the best microstructure. In addition, it was discovered that the compressive and tensile strength of the cryogel plates had equally increased for approximately 8 and 30 times after compounding with glass fiber. Simultaneously, the mechanical properties of the 20 wt% and 25% solid content (PCPs) achieved the optimal value compared with PCPs of other contents. Moreover, it was found that the cryogels had excellent thermostability, and their thermal conductivity decreased with the reducing of the solid contents, what's more, the joining of glass fiber had the increased the composites’ thermal conductivity to some degree. Finally, considering the requirement of low density, good mechanical and thermal performance, the 20 wt% solid content PCCP had the best comprehensive performance compared with others.

Facile Synthesis and Properties of Highly Porous Quartz Fiber-Reinforced Phenolic Resin Composites with High Strength

“…Glass fiber is also a common reinforcement for its low cost, high-temperature resistance, and non-combustible properties in phenolic composites. Chopped short fiber [ 23 ], continuous long fiber [ 24 ], two-dimensional woven fiber fabric [ 25 , 26 , 27 ], and three-dimensional fiber braided body [ 28 , 29 ] are common forms of reinforcement. Among them, the use of three-dimensional reinforcement can effectively improve the wear resistance, shear strength, fracture toughness, and ablative resistance of the composite while avoiding the phenomenon of low interlayer bonding strength, and it can effectively inhibit the volume shrinkage during the curing process of phenolic resin [ 30 , 31 , 32 ].…”

“…Among them, the use of three-dimensional reinforcement can effectively improve the wear resistance, shear strength, fracture toughness, and ablative resistance of the composite while avoiding the phenomenon of low interlayer bonding strength, and it can effectively inhibit the volume shrinkage during the curing process of phenolic resin [ 30 , 31 , 32 ]. Rui Yao et al prepared a three-dimensional braided glass fiber-reinforced phenolic cryogel composite by microemulsion-templated sol–gel polymerization and freeze-drying methods, and the compressive and tensile strength had equally increased approximately 8 and 30 times after compounding with glass fiber [ 29 ]. Xinghong Zhang et al prepared a completely lightweight 3D nanocomposites by vacuum impregnation and gel polymerization processing with a quartz fiber needled felt as the reinforcement and phenolic resin aerogel as the matrix, which showed enhanced toughness, low thermal conductivity, and fire-retardant properties [ 33 , 34 ].…”

Least-squares method for laminated beams with distributed braided piezoelectric composite actuators

“…Wu et al (2013) prepared the 3D braided single poly composite and discussed the influence of the fiber volume fraction on its maximum bending stress. Yao et al (2016) fabricated a 3D braided glass-fiber-reinforced phenolic cryogel matrix composite and systematically investigated its microstructure and mechanical and thermal properties. Yan et al (2016) designed a 3D braided carbon-fiber-reinforced ceramic matrix composite and researched its flexural strength and ablation properties.…”