Microstructure and properties of novel ceramic–polymer composites

The present paper describes technology and properties of novel ceramic–polymer construction and functional composites obtained via infiltration of porous SiO2 by polynitrile–urea–urethane elastomer (PNUU). The obtained results show that infiltration method can be used to fabricate composites with percolation of ceramic and polymeric phases. These composites exhibit a high compression strength together with ability to sustain large deformations. During the cycling loading, the elastomer behaves as strengthened by the ceramic. On the other hand, the presence of elastomeric phase prevents the composite from rapid failure. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) technique was used to describe the composite microstructure and stereological methods for its quantitative description. The elastic modulus and density of composites were measured and discussed in terms of the rule of mixture.