Microstructures and properties of ceramic-polymer composites
Katarzyna Konopka*, Anna Boczkowska*, Krzysztof J. Kurzydłowski*, Mikołaj Szafran** *Politechnika Warszawska, Wydział Inżynierii Materiałowej, ul. Wołoska 141, 02-507 Warszawa **Politechnika Warszawska, Wydział Chemiczny, ul. Noakowskiego 3, 00-664 Warszawa
Annals 3 No. 7, 2003 pages 216-220
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abstract The present work concerns the ceramic-polymer composites obtained via infiltration of the porous ceramics Al2O3 and SiO2 by the urea-urethane elastomer. The aim was to study the composite microstructure effect on its mechanical properties especially on the compression strength. The composites microstructure was studied using the scanning electron microscopy. The obtained results (Fig. 1a and Fig. 1b) show that the infiltration method can be used to fabricate composites with percolation microstructure. The ability of the elastomer for porous ceramic infiltration depends on the size of the porous. The SEM investigations (Figs. 2 and 3) also indicate the good adhesion between the ceramic and the urea-urethane elastomer. The compession tests for obtained composites were made and the results are shown in Figures 6 and 8. These composites exhibit high compression strength together with the ability to achieve large deformation. This is due to the fact that the elastomer exhibits high elastic properties and deforms after the ceramic loose its cohesion. During the cyclic compression the elastomer becomes the matrix reinforced by the ceramic. Key words: ceramics, composites, polymer, microstructure