2.3. Characterization

The densities of the LC samples were tested according to the GB/T 17657–2013 standard [13]. The surfaces and cross-sections of the LC samples were examined using a digital microscopic system (VHX-6000, KEYENCE, Osaka, Japan). The pore sizes, pore size distributions, and porosities of the LC samples were measured quantitatively using a mercury intrusion porosimeter (MIP; AutoPore IV9500, Micromeritics, Norcross, GA, USA). The pressure range for intrusion was 0–227 MPa. Bending and shear tests were performed parallel to the face grains using a universal testing machine (MDW-W50, Jinan Time Testing Instrument Co., Ltd., Jinan, China) in the three-point bending mode according to GB/T 17657–2013 [13] and GB/T 20241–2006 [11], respectively. Following test procedure GB/T 30364–2013 [14], a 28 h treatment was used to determine the water absorption rate (WAR), width swelling rate (WSR), and TSR of the LC samples. The sample dimensions and test details are summarized in Table 1.

Experimental test details for LC samples.