Facile Fabrication of a Novel PZT@PPy Aerogel/Epoxy Resin Composite with Improved Damping Property

A novel lead zirconate titanate@polypyrrole (PZT@PPy) aerogel (PPA) was fabricated via in-situ polymerization and subsequent freeze-drying method. The porous PPA was then saturated with epoxy resin to obtain the PPA/epoxy composite (PPAE) by a simple vacuum filling method. In this way, the filler content and dispersion uniformity are well guaranteed, which is in favor of improving the damping and mechanical properties of composites. The morphology and structure of PPAs were investigated using XRD, SEM, EDS and nitrogen absorption and desorption measurements. The results showed that the PPA possessed a three-dimensional porous structure with uniform lead zirconate titanate (PZT) distribution. The influence of PZT content on the damping property of PPAE composite was investigated by dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA). PPAE-75 (i.e., the mass ratio of PZT to PPy is 75 wt %) exhibited the maximum damping loss factor value, 360% higher than that of the epoxy matrix, suggesting good structural damping performance.