Syntactic foam

Syntactic foam, shown by scanning electron microscopy, consisting of glass microspheres within a matrix of epoxy resin.

Syntactic foams are composite materials synthesized by filling a metal, polymer,[1] cementitious or ceramic matrix with hollow spheres called microballoons[2] or cenospheres or non-hollow spheres (e.g. perlite) as aggregates.[3][4] In this context, "syntactic" means "put together."[5] The presence of hollow particles results in lower density, higher specific strength (strength divided by density), lower coefficient of thermal expansion, and, in some cases, radar or sonar transparency.

  1. ^ Shutov, F.A. (1986). "Syntactic polymer foams". Advances in Polymer Science. 73–74: 63–123. doi:10.1007/3-540-15786-7_7. ISBN 978-3-540-15786-1.
  2. ^ Kim, Ho Sung; Plubrai, Pakorn (September 2004). "Manufacturing and failure mechanisms of syntactic foam under compression". Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing. 35 (9): 1009–1015. doi:10.1016/j.compositesa.2004.03.013.
  3. ^ Shastri, Dipendra; Kim, Ho Sung (16 June 2014). "A new consolidation process for expanded perlite particles". Construction and Building Materials. 60: 1–7. doi:10.1016/j.conbuildmat.2014.02.041. hdl:1959.13/1052767.
  4. ^ "What is Syntactic Foam?". Cornerstone Research Group. Archived from the original on 20 July 2012. Retrieved 7 August 2009.
  5. ^ "syntactic foam". Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Merriam-Webster.