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Nano-additive Reinforcement of Thermoplastic Microballoon Epoxy Syntactic Foams

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Proceedings of the 3rd Pan American Materials Congress

Part of the book series: The Minerals, Metals & Materials Series ((MMMS))

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Abstract

Syntactic foams comprised of glass microballoons have gained considerable attention over the past several years due to mechanical and thermal properties that are advantageous for use as a core material in naval and aerospace applications. Recently, advancements in the production of thermoplastic microballoon syntactic foams have allowed for an increase in microballoon volume fraction (up to 90 volume fraction), with corresponding lower densities but reduced mechanical properties. In this work, carbon nanofibers and halloysite nanotubes were incorporated in thermoplastic microballoon-based syntactic foam to enhances its mechanical properties, and the effects of these two nanoscale reinforcements are compared. X-Ray micro-computed tomography (MCT) was employed to analyze the microstructure of the materials produced, and scanning electron microscopy was used to assess the dispersion of nano-additives within the resin. Through characterization of the tensile and compressive strength properties of these materials, it was observed that dramatic mechanical property enhancements can be engineered through additions of either nano-additive at specific loading levels.

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Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge the National Aeronautics & Space Administration’s Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) program for the financial support of our research through grant (NASA Proposal # 11-EPSCoR-0049). Acknowledgements are also due to the Composite and Polymer Engineering (CAPE) Laboratory and staff for equipment usage, guidance and technical assistance with experimentation.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Composite and Polymer Engineering (CAPE) Laboratory, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, 501 E. St. Joseph St., Rapid City, SD, 57701, USA

    Kerrick R. Dando & David R. Salem

Authors
  1. Kerrick R. Dando
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  2. David R. Salem
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kerrick R. Dando .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept. of Nanoengineering, MC 0448, University of California-San Diego Dept. of Nanoengineering, MC 0448, LA JOLLA, California, USA

    Marc André Meyers

  2. ESFM-IPN , Mexico City, Mexico

    Hector Alfredo Calderon Benavides

  3. UTN-National University of Technology , Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Sonia P Brühl

  4. Universidad de Antioquia , Medellín, Colombia

    Henry A Colorado

  5. Pratt & Whitney Canada , Longueuil, Canada

    Elvi Dalgaard

  6. Military Institute of Engineering , Rio de Janerio, Brazil

    Carlos Nelson Elias

  7. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais , Belo Horizonte, Brazil

    Roberto B Figueiredo

  8. Ternium Mexico , Nuevo León, Mexico

    Omar Garcia-Rincon

  9. Division of Materials Sci & Engg, Hanyang University Division of Materials Sci & Engg, Seoul, Korea (Republic of)

    Megumi Kawasaki

  10. Dept. Engineering & the Environment, University of Southampton Dept. Engineering & the Environment, Southampton, United Kingdom

    Terence G. Langdon

  11. University of Concepción , Concepción, Chile

    R.V. Mangalaraja

  12. Universidad Nacional de Ingeniería , Lima, Peru

    Mery Cecilia Gomez Marroquin

  13. Federal University of Rio de Janeiro , Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

    Adriana da Cunha Rocha

  14. Dept Chemical Engg & Sci, University of California, Irvine Dept Chemical Engg & Sci, Irvine, California, USA

    Julie M Schoenung

  15. Universidade Federal Fluminense , Niterói, Brazil

    Andre Costa e Silva

  16. Mechanical Engineering, University of Waterloo Mechanical Engineering, WATERLOO, Ontario, Canada

    Mary Wells

  17. ETH Zurich , Zürich, Switzerland

    Wen Yang

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Dando, K.R., Salem, D.R. (2017). Nano-additive Reinforcement of Thermoplastic Microballoon Epoxy Syntactic Foams. In: Meyers, M., et al. Proceedings of the 3rd Pan American Materials Congress. The Minerals, Metals & Materials Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-52132-9_40

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