Reinforced and hardened three-phase-foams

Currently and in the past several lightweight materials were evolved focusing on different applications. Many developments are based on biomimetic approaches to reach material and cost savings with a simultaneous combination of thermal insulation and sustainability, for example. The desire of needed high porosity and lower density lead to less strength of the materials. Thus, applications are limited. One way to solve this problem is the creation of foams based on three phases. A new approach is the implementation of nanotubes and further chemical treatment of the inorganic foams to avoid further energy consuming thermal treatment for strengthening. Three-phase-foams consist of pozzolanic active nanomaterials as a third phase, which can be varied and surface treated. The resulting materials can be combined with other binders to further improve their properties or used as self-contained materials.Aided by chemical treatment a hardening of the foams has been achieved. Implementation of prefabricated and synthesized nanotubes as a nanoreinforcement were successfully done and properties of the foams investigated. Results based on studies of the microstructure and phase formation will be illustrated and discussed.

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