Microstructure, Mechanical and Thermal Properties of Three-dimensional Braided Glass Fiber Reinforced Phenolic Cryogel Composites

Phenolic cryogel plates (PCPs) and three-dimensional braided glass fiber reinforced phenolic cryogel composite plates (PCCPs) were successfully fabricated by microemulsion-templated sol gel polymerization and freeze-drying methods. Then, pore morphology, mechanical and thermal properties of the composites were investigated. The experimental results showed that the aerogels made by freeze-drying method had the best microstructure. In addition, it was discovered that the compressive and tensile strength of the cryogel plates had equally increased for approximately 8 and 30 times after compounding with glass fiber. Simultaneously, the mechanical properties of the 20 wt% and 25% solid content (PCPs) achieved the optimal value compared with PCPs of other contents. Moreover, it was found that the cryogels had excellent thermostability, and their thermal conductivity decreased with the reducing of the solid contents, what's more, the joining of glass fiber had the increased the composites’ thermal conductivity to some degree. Finally, considering the requirement of low density, good mechanical and thermal performance, the 20 wt% solid content PCCP had the best comprehensive performance compared with others.