Compressive Properties of Nanoclay-Reinforced Syntactic Foams at Quasi-Static and High Strain Rate Loading.

The compressive behaviors of nanoclay-reinforced syntactic foams filled by ceramic microballoons are investigated. Eighteen different types of nano syntactic foams are fabricated with three different microballoons volume fraction, each containing six different weight fraction of nanoclay in their matrix. Quasi-static tests are carried out using an Instron 5500 machine test and Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar (SHPB) apparatus is used to perform the high strain rate tests. Also, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is used to understand the fracture mechanisms and the microstructure of the tested specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]