TITANIUM-CARBIDE-INFUSED PHENOLIC BALSA FOAM NANOCOMPOSITE

Abstract

A sonochemical technique is developed to infuse titanium carbide nanoparticles into phenolic balsa foam material. Commercially available phenolic balsa foam resin solution (part A) is mixed with titanium carbide ( TiC ~ 80 nm ) nanoparticles, and irradiated with a high intensity ultrasonic horn. In the next step, the modified phenolic balsa foam resin solution containing titanium carbide nanoparticles is mixed with part B (containing phenol sulfonic acid, a catalyst) through a high speed mechanical stirrer. The reaction mixture is then cast into a rectangular mold to fabricate nanophased foam panels. Test coupons are cut precisely from the panels to carry out thermal, morphological and mechanical characterizations. The as-prepared foams are characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The SEM studies show that the particles are well dispersed over the entire volume of the matrix, with minimal agglomeration. The foam cell structures are well-ordered and uniform in size and shape. The TGA analysis indicates that the nanophased foams are thermally more stable than the corresponding neat systems. Quasi-static compression tests have been carried out for both nanophased and neat foam systems. The test results show a significant increase in the compressive strength (108%) and modulus (135%) compared to the neat system. These improvements in compressive properties have been observed repeatedly for multiple batches and with a minimum of five specimens tested from each batch. Details of the synthesis procedure and thermal and mechanical characterizations are presented in this paper.