Performance and fracture of hollow glass microsphere/epoxy resin high-strength buoyancy material

The high-strength buoyancy material was synthesized with adhesive matrix of epoxy resin and filler of hollow glass microsphere (HGM) activated by silane coupling agent. The characteristics of HGM treated with silane were analyzed by XRD and FRIR. The effect of type and content of HGM on performance of buoyancy material was investigated through density test and uniaxial static compression test. The fracture characteristics and water absorption of buoyancy material were studied by SEM and water absorption test. The results show that the structure of HGM is amorphous. Silane is grafted on the surface of HGM after activation. HGM is perfectly combined with epoxy resin and there is no gap between their interface. The high specific compression strength of HGM is beneficial to the performance of buoyancy material. The density, compression strength and specific compression strength of buoyancy material are 0.645~0.850 g/cm³, 60~93 MPa and 92~112 MPa·cm³·g^-1, respectively. On the fracture surface of buoyancy material with less HGM, HGM is destroyed and there is tailing in the matrix, while the damage degree of HGM increases with the increase of HGM content and finally HGM is destroyed thoroughly. The water absorption of buoyancy material is low.