Abstract
Composite material sandwich structures are widely used in many fields. There are various types of core materials, including lightweight foam, wood, honeycomb, metal and fiber dielectric core materials. Each has its own performance characteristics and application fields. Choose the right one. The core material is critical to composite performance
Composite material sandwich structures have been widely used in many fields such as aerospace, construction, automobiles, and ships due to their light weight, high strength, and versatility. As the core component of the sandwich structure, the performance characteristics of the core material directly determine the overall performance of the composite material. This article will take an in-depth look at the common types of core materials used in composite sandwich structures and their characteristics.
1. Lightweight foam core material
Lightweight foam core material is one of the most common core material types in composite sandwich structures. This type of core material has the characteristics of low density, light weight, good thermal insulation performance, and good sound absorption performance. Common lightweight foam core materials include PVC foam, polyurethane foam, PET foam, etc.
1）PVC Foam
PVC foam, mainly PVC foamed board, known as polyvinyl chloride foam, has excellent mechanical properties, chemical stability, and processing performance. Its density range is wide and can be adjusted according to needs. The core material of PVC foam has good water resistance and corrosion resistance, as well as good sound insulation and heat insulation properties, making it widely used in shipbuilding, construction, transportation, and other fields.
2）Polyurethane Foam Materials
Polyurethane foam is a high-molecular-weight polymer foam primarily made from isocyanates and polyethers. It has a closed-cell structure, which gives it excellent thermal insulation properties. In addition, polyurethane foam also possesses good compression resistance and impact resistance, making it widely used in the automotive, construction, and refrigeration equipment industries.
3） PET foam
PET foam, or polyethylene terephthalate foam, is a lightweight, recyclable thermoplastic foam. It has high strength and high temperature resistance, as well as good fatigue resistance and impact resistance. PET foam core materials have been widely used in aerospace, rail transit and other fields.
2. Wooden core material
Wooden core material is a natural and renewable core material that is favored for its excellent mechanical properties, thermal insulation properties and environmental protection. Common wood core materials include balsa wood (balsa wood), etc.
Balsa wood is a lightweight wood that grows in tropical forests in the Americas and has extremely high strength and hardness (weight ratio). It has low density, fast growth and good toughness, and is suitable as the core material of sandwich structure materials. Balsa wood has a good application record in recreational boat hulls, military aircraft, naval ships and other fields.
3. PHoneycomb core material
Honeycomb core material is a network structure core material composed of countless hexagonal or square units. It has the characteristics of light weight, high strength and high stiffness, and is suitable for structures with high requirements. The air inside the honeycomb core material occupies most of the volume, achieving lightweight. However, due to its structural characteristics, honeycomb core materials are more difficult to achieve curved structures. Honeycomb core materials are widely used in aerospace, automotive, construction and other fields.
4. Metal core material
Metal core material is mainly made of metal or alloy and has the characteristics of high strength, high stiffness, high conductivity and high heat resistance. The preparation methods of metal core materials mainly include gas foaming method, solid foaming method and powder metallurgy method. The disadvantage of metal core materials is their higher density, which increases the weight of the sandwich structure and increases manufacturing costs. Metal core materials have important applications in aerospace, rail transportation and other fields.
5. Fiber media core material
Fiber media core material is a composite core material made of fiber fabric, which has the advantages of high strength, high stiffness and low density. The disadvantage of fibrous media cores is their relatively high cost. However, its excellent properties make fiber dielectric core materials have broad application prospects in aerospace, automobiles, construction and other fields.
To sum up, there are many types of core materials in composite sandwich structures, each with its own characteristics. Choosing the right core material is critical to improving the overall performance of the composite. With the continuous advancement of science and technology and the continuous innovation of materials, composite sandwich structures will play an important role in more fields.
Article source: Composites Yunji Supply Chain Platform
