FLEXURAL PROPERTIES OF SYNTACTIC FOAM REINFORCED BY WARP KNITTED SPACER FABRIC

The aim of this study was to investigate the flexural behaviours of syntactic foam reinforced by warp knitted spacer fabric (SF-WKSF). Seven kinds of SF-WKSF samples were fabricated by warp knitted spacer fabric (WKSF) with structural parameters including surface layer structures, inclination-angle and fineness of spacer yarns, different microballoons types and contents. The flexural tests were carried out and the bending properties of SF-WKSF were analysed based on the strength and modulus values obtained from the test results. It is indicated that the SF-WKSF shows higher flexural strength and modulus compared to neat syntactic foam with almost no impact on the density of composites. The results also demonstrate that the surface layer structure, inclination-angle of spacer yarns, microballons content and type have significant effects on the flexural responses of SF-WKSF. The composites exhibit better antibending capacities by selecting larger inclination-angle, closer surface layer structure, higher density and relatively higher content of S60HS microballoons.