FORMATION AND PROPERTIES OF MATERIALS BASED ON THERMALLY EXPANDED GRAPHITE

It is established that the properties of articles made from thermally expanded graphite (TEG) depend mainly on methods and conditions of the ir formation. Material formation occurs in several stages. The capacit y of TEG to show a considerable elastic aftereffect after removing the external load plays a special part in forming anisotropic properties causing mechanical properties to change with a change in density. The materials obtained may be both elastic and elastoplastic. It is shown that continuous indentation may be used for nondestructive monitoring of local and bulk properties. The feasibility of a damagability criter ion for EG materials is demonstrated.