Abstract
Cellulose foams were used to produce porous epoxy-composites. The influence of fibre wetting by the resins on foam morphology and resulting compression properties was investigated. Impregnated foam morphology determined the composite structures and their mechanical properties. Fibre preforms of various densities (40–80 kg·m−3) were prepared by frothing surfactant stabilised fibre suspensions. The preforms, exhibiting compressive strengths of 0.02 MPa, were impregnated with three different resins (a lignin-based resin BLER/MA, and two commercial formulations, A/A and A/XB). Depending on the formation of closed- or open-cell structures in the cured foam composites, compressive strengths of up to 2 MPa (BLER/MA), 33 MPa (A/A), or 23 MPa (A/XB), and compressive moduli of up to 47 MPa (BLER/MA), 468 MPa (A/A), or 379 MPa (A/XB) were obtained. The surface area, fibre coverage homogeneity, and composite morphology were investigated in relation to wetting. A tool kit for fibre foam templated porous composite design is provided.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 108461 |
| Journal | Composites Part A: Applied Science and Manufacturing |
| Volume | 187 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Dec 2024 |
Funding
We greatly acknowledge the Austrian Science Fund (FWF) for funding through BIOMAMA (I 4864) and the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme for funding through BreadCell (grant agreement 964430) supporting Philip Verdross (FWF) and Veronika Biegler (EU). We thank William Sampson for most valuable feedback and input.
Austrian Fields of Science 2012
- 205019 Material sciences
Keywords
- Cellulose
- Epoxy resin
- Lignin
- Porous materials
- Thermosetting resin
- Wetting