Update on Syntactic Foams: Introduction; 2 Types of Syntactic Foams; 3 Recent Developments in the Field of Syntactic Foams; 4 Applications of Syntactic Foams; Abbreviations; Index

Syntactic foams are polymer composites obtained by dispersing hollow spheres in a matrix. They have excellent properties such as low density, high specific strength, low moisture absorption, lower thermal coefficient of expansion, and in some case radar or sonar transparency for use in Stealth technology. One of their biggest advantages is the fact that they can be tailored to have the properties necessary for a specific product. Syntactic foams uses include: marine applications, aerospace, ground vehicles, and sports applications (snow skis and soccer balls). In fact, they can be used for anything that needs a high strength material. Update on Syntactic Foams will be of interest to all those who produce polymer products that need very high strength due to the adverse conditions that they are used in, as well as manufacturers of raw materials used in these products. This Update gives the reader a good insight into the properties, manufacture and uses of syntactic foams, including: * The basics of syntactic foams including the types of microballoons used, foam structure, methods of synthesis and the properties. * Syntactic foams based on different types of resin systems such as epoxy, phenolics, cyanate ester and so on. * Recent developments in the field such as fibre reinforcement, nanoclay reinforcement, functionally grading of foams, rubberisation, syntactic foam core sandwich composites and cement-based syntactic foams. * Appplications of syntactic foams. 1.1 Syntactic Foams: Definition......Page 10 1.3 Microspheres in Syntactic Foams......Page 11 1.4 Structure of Syntactic Foams......Page 14 1.5 General Methods for Preparation of Syntactic Foams......Page 16 1.6 Properties of Syntactic Foams......Page 20 1.6.2 Property Tailoring......Page 21 1.6.3 Mechanical Properties......Page 22 1.6.4 Moisture Absorption......Page 23 1.6.6 Dielectric Properties......Page 24 1.7.1 Volume Fraction of Filler......Page 25 1.7.3 Nature of Polymer Matrix......Page 26 References......Page 27 2.1 Epoxy Syntactic Foams......Page 32 2.2 Phenolic Syntactic Foams......Page 40 2.3 Cyanate Ester Syntactic Foams......Page 48 2.4 Polyimide Syntactic Foams......Page 52 2.5 Polyurethane Syntactic Foams......Page 60 2.6 Polyester Syntactic Foams......Page 62 2.8 Elastomeric Syntactic Foams......Page 63 2.10 Polybutadiene Syntactic Foams......Page 64 2.12 Carbon–carbon Syntactic Foams......Page 65 References......Page 67 3.1 Fibre-reinforced Syntactic Foams......Page 72 3.2 Nanoclay-incorporated Syntactic Foams......Page 85 3.3 Rubberised Syntactic Foams......Page 91 3.4 Functionally Graded Syntactic Foams (FGSF)......Page 92 3.5 Syntactic Foam Core Sandwich Composites......Page 95 3.6 Cement-based Syntactic Foams......Page 98 References......Page 100 4.1 Syntactic Foams in Buoyancy Applications......Page 104 4.2 Syntactic Foam as Thermal Insulation Material......Page 108 4.3 Syntactic Foams in the Aerospace Industry......Page 109 4.4 Syntactic Foams in Radomes......Page 111 4.5 Syntactic Foams in the Sports Industry......Page 112 4.6 Syntactic Foams for Furniture Applications......Page 113 4.8 Syntactic Foam for Air-equivalent Solid Backing......Page 114 4.9 Shape Memory Syntactic Foams......Page 115 4.10 Syntactic Foam Plug Assist Materials......Page 116 4.12 Syntactic Foams in Underwater Sound Transducers......Page 117 4.14 Miscellaneous Applications......Page 118 References......Page 120 Abbreviations......Page 126 Index......Page 128 "Syntactic foams are polymer composites obtained by dispersing hollow spheres in a matrix. They have excellent properties such as low density, high specific strength, low moisture absorption, lower thermal coefficient of expansion, and in some case radar or sonar transparency for use in Stealth technology. One of their biggest advantages is the fact that they can be tailored to have the properties necessary for a specific product. Syntactic foams uses include: marine applications, aerospace, ground vehicles, and sports applications (snow skis and soccer balls). In fact, they can be used for anything that needs a high strength material. Update on Syntactic Foams will be of interest to all those who produce polymer products that need very high strength due to the adverse conditions that they are used in, as well as manufacturers of raw materials used in these products. This Update gives the reader a good insight into the properties, manufacture and uses of syntactic foams, including: The basics of syntactic foams including the types of microballoons used, foam structure, methods of synthesis and the properties. ; Syntactic foams based on different types of resin systems such as epoxy, phenolics, cyanate ester and so on. ; Recent developments in the field such as fibre reinforcement, nanoclay reinforcement, functionally grading of foams, rubberisation, syntactic foam core sandwich composites and cement-based syntactic foams. ; Applications of syntactic foams."--Publisher's website