Experimental Investigation and Design Analysis of Hollow Glass Microsphere loaded PP/ABS Composites

The objective of the present is to investigate hollow glass microspheres (HGMs) experimentally and carry out design analysis of hollow glass microsphere loaded PP/ABS composites. The tensile and notched Charpy impact test of HGM-filled acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS) and Polypropylene (PP) composites will be studied with varying the concentrations of PP/ABS composite with HGM. Also further the design analysis will be studied by conducting the simulation under the same criteria and comparing the results at the end. This is done to introduce a light weight material without compromising specific strength of PP/ABS composite by adding HGM to the composite. Keywords: Hollow Glass Microsphere (HGM), ABS-Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, PP- Polypropylene, Composites.

Influence of Graphene Nano Fillers and Carbon Nano Tubes on the Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Hollow Glass Microsphere Epoxy Composites

The present work aimed to analyze the roll of carbon nano tubes and graphene nano fillers on the mechanical and thermal characteristics of hollow glass microsphere reinforced epoxy composites. Composites with varying content of hollow glass microballoons (2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 wt %) reinforced in epoxy matrix were fabricated. Additionally, two more types of composites, one with graphene nano fillers and the other with carbon nano tube at a constant 0.5 wt %, were fabricated with varying weight percentages of hollow glass microballoons (2, 4, 6, 8, and 10%). The composites were fabricated using an open mold casting process. Composites were tested for thermal and mechanical properties. The tensile and flexural moduli were found to rise as the HGM concentration increased. Graphene-filled HGM/epoxy composites revealed the highest modulus compared with HGM/epoxy and HGM/CNT/epoxy composites. The impact strength of all composite types decreased as the HGM content increased. Neat epoxy specimens revealed low response as compared with all the composites tested. Further, the thermal conductivity of HGM/epoxy composites was lower as compared with other compositions and neat epoxy. Scanning electron microscopy was used to analyze the surface morphological behavior of the composites subjected to flexural test. It was found that HGM/G/E composites with 10% of HGM and 0.5% of graphene by weight in epoxy matrix were the optimum.

Feasibility of Using the Hollow Glass Microsphere to Develop Lightweight CAC-GGBFS-Blended Strain-Hardening Cementitious Composites

Strain hardening cementitious composites (SHCCs) with superior tensile strength and ductility have been utilized as an effective repair material. A corrosion-resistant binder, calcium aluminate cement (CAC)–ground granulated blast-furnace slag (GGBFS) blends, has been introduced into SHCC to expand its application in the concrete sewage network rehabilitation. As a repair material, the lightweight property is particularly favorable as it can broaden its functionality. This article presents a study on developing a novel lightweight CAC-GGBFS-blended SHCC using hollow glass microsphere (HGM), namely, HGMLW-SHCCs. The fine silica sand content was substituted with HGM at 25, 50, 75, and 100 vol% in HGMLW-SHCC. We examined flowability, density, uniaxial compressive behavior, direct tensile behavior, and pseudo strain-hardening indices. Microstructure analysis was also conducted to understand the meso-scale behavior of this new lightweight composite. The newly developed HGMLW-SHCC had a 28-day density of only 1756 kg/m3. Compressive and tensile strengths were determined in the range of 62.80–49.39 MPa and 5.81–4.19 MPa, respectively. All mixtures exhibited significant strain-hardening behavior. Even though the increased HGM content negatively affected the tensile strength of HGMLW-SHCC, it had a positive effect on its ductility. In addition, HGM can reduce crack width and tensile stress fluctuations significantly. The results showed that HGM was a promising material for producing strong and lightweight corrosion-resistant SHCCs to be used as a retrofitting material in the wastewater industry.

Loading Effect of Hollow Glass Microsphere (HGM) and Foam Microstructure on the Specific Mechanical Properties and Water Absorption of Syntactic Foam Composite

Epoxy syntactic foams (SF) filled with hollow glass microspheres (HGM) were prepared by simple resin casting method and characterization in this study. The effect of varying the amount of HGM on the specific mechanical and water absorption properties of SF composites were investigated. Five different composition of SF (SFT60-0.5 to SFT60-2.5) were compared with the neat epoxy matrix. The wall thickness of the microballoons differ because of its different percentile size distribution (10th, 50th and 90th), which reflects in its density variation. The results show that the specific tensile and flexural strength increases with an increasing filler (HGM) content. The density of SF filled with HGM reduces with increasing volume fraction of filler content. Scanning electron microscopy was done on the failed samples to examine the fractured surfaces. The water absorption capacity of the SF was also investigated as it relates to the HGM volume fraction variation. All the syntactic foam composition shows a better diffusion coefficient capacity than the neat epoxy resin. This makes it applicable in structural purposes and several marine application products such as Autonomous Ultimately Vehicle (AUV).

Mechanical Behaviour of Multifunctional Epoxy/Hollow Glass Microspheres/Paraffin Microcapsules Syntactic Foams for Thermal Management

Epoxy/hollow glass microsphere (HGM) syntactic foams (SFs) are peculiar materials developed to combine low density, low thermal conductivity, and elevated mechanical properties. In this work, multifunctional SFs endowed with both structural and thermal management properties were produced for the first time, by combining an epoxy matrix with HGM and a microencapsulated phase change material (PCM) having a melting temperature of 43 °C. Systems with a total filler content (HGM + PCM) up to 40 vol% were prepared and characterized from the mechanical point of view with a broad experimental campaign comprising quasi-static, impact, and fracture toughness tests. The experimental results were statistically treated and fitted with a linear model, to produce ternary phase diagrams to provide a comprehensive interpretation of the mechanical behaviour of the prepared foams. In quasi-static tests, HGM introduction helps to retain the specific tensile elastic modulus and to increase the specific compressive modulus. The brittle nature of HGMs decreases the Charpy impact properties of the SFs, while the PCM insertion improve their toughness. This result is confirmed in KIC and GIC tests, where the composition with 20 vol% of PCM shows an increase of 80% and 370% in KIC and GIC in to neat epoxy, respectively. The most promising compositions are those combining PCM and HGMs with a total particle volume fraction up to 40 vol%, thanks to their optimal combination of thermal management capability, lightness, thermal insulation, and mechanical properties. The ability to fine-tune the properties of the SFs, together with the acquired thermal energy storage (TES) capability, confirm the great potential of these multifunctional materials in automotive, electronics, and aerospace industries.