Main application fields and characteristics of inorganic salt whiskers
Due to their high aspect ratio, high strength and tensile properties, inorganic salt whiskers can often be used as an important reinforcing material to be added to flame retardant materials, building materials, composite materials and friction materials. The action mechanism of whiskers in composites is mainly reflected in four aspects: load transfer, crack bridging, crack deflection and pull-out effect. Due to the high strength and high modulus of inorganic salt whiskers, when added to the composite material, it can play a certain role in strengthening and toughening the composite material.
1. Flame retardant materials
Research on the fire performance of new building materials is an important part of public protection and a necessary condition for large-scale application in construction projects. Due to its excellent high temperature resistance, inorganic salt whiskers are often added to other materials as flame retardant materials to improve the flame retardant properties of composite materials.
2. Building materials
At present, in the material consumption industry, the construction industry is one of the largest material consumption industries, accounting for about 24% of the global material consumption. In building materials, inorganic whiskers are widely used in building materials due to their certain aspect ratio and their excellent physical and chemical properties. Inorganic whiskers have crack resistance and filling effects at the microscale, so doping the whiskers into the composite material can effectively improve the comprehensive performance of the composite material.
3. Composite materials
Inorganic whiskers, as fillers, can enhance the physical and mechanical properties of composites to a certain extent. At the same time, the study pointed out that proper modification of whiskers can improve the comprehensive properties of composites.
4. Friction material
In recent years, whiskers as functional fillers have a certain enhancement effect on the improvement of automobile braking friction performance. RAJ et al. explored the effect of calcium sulfate whiskers as functional fillers on the friction performance of automobile brakes. By changing the content of calcium sulfate whiskers, according to the JASOC406 standard, a tribological study was carried out on an inertial brake dynamometer. The results showed that the mechanical properties of the material with the addition of 10% calcium sulfate whiskers were improved, and the friction was improved at the same time. performance, friction materials containing calcium sulfate whiskers wear less.