Mechanical behavior of entangled materials with or without cross-linked fibers

Entangled materials can be manufactured using fibers made from various materials, such as carbon, glass or steel. The mechanical properties of these low-density materials are linked to their architecture (fiber orientation, number of contacts, etc.). Specimens can be produced with and without cross-links between fibers by sintering for steel wool or by using epoxy spraying for carbon or glass fibers. Experimental mechanical compression tests were performed on these materials. The results were analyzed taking into account the architecture thanks to the relationships existing between morphological data and macroscopic mechanical behavior.