Abstract Syntactic foams (SF) with robust impermeable hollow microspheres as density adjuster have drawn much attention because of their easy-tailored low density, high mechanical strength and excellent performance especially when used in high pressure aqueous environment. In this work, specially fabricated hollow silicate glass microspheres (HSMs) with high strength to weight ratio were employed for the controlled fabrication of high strength lightweight syntactic foams. Special attention has been paid on the effects of surface physicochemical status modification of the HSMs on the mechanical strength and mechanical performance evolution in various external environments. It is found that the surface physicochemical status modification of the HSMs contributes more on the enhancement of the fracture toughness compared with that of the compressive strength. Moreover, compared with those of the pristine SF, the mechanical strength of the SF samples after different environmental exposure display a more remarkable improvement due to the surface physicochemical status modification of the HSMs, indicating an enhanced environmental stability. This work provides an additional insight to the mechanical strength and aging resistance control of SF, which holds the potential to be extended to the property improvement of similar composites with various types of silicate or glass fillers.

中文翻译：

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空心微球表面性质对高强复合泡沫力学性能的影响

摘要 以坚固的不渗透空心微球为密度调节剂的复合泡沫（SF）因其易于定制的低密度、高机械强度和优异的性能而备受关注，尤其是在高压水环境中使用时。在这项工作中，特制的具有高强度重量比的空心硅酸盐玻璃微球 (HSM) 被用于控制制造高强度轻质复合泡沫。HSM 的表面物理化学状态改性对各种外部环境中的机械强度和机械性能演变的影响受到了特别关注。发现与抗压强度相比，HSMs的表面物理化学状态改性对提高断裂韧性的贡献更大。此外，与原始 SF 相比，由于 HSM 的表面理化状态改变，SF 样品在不同环境暴露后的机械强度显示出更显着的改善，表明环境稳定性增强。这项工作为 SF 的机械强度和抗老化控制提供了额外的见解，这有可能扩展到具有各种类型的硅酸盐或玻璃填料的类似复合材料的性能改进。由于HSMs的表面物理化学状态改变，SF样品在不同环境暴露后的机械强度显示出更显着的改善，表明环境稳定性增强。这项工作为 SF 的机械强度和抗老化控制提供了额外的见解，这有可能扩展到具有各种类型的硅酸盐或玻璃填料的类似复合材料的性能改进。由于HSMs的表面物理化学状态改变，SF样品在不同环境暴露后的机械强度显示出更显着的改善，表明环境稳定性增强。这项工作为 SF 的机械强度和抗老化控制提供了额外的见解，这有可能扩展到具有各种类型的硅酸盐或玻璃填料的类似复合材料的性能改进。