Evaluation mechanical properties of polymer composites reinforced by different metal powders

Abstract EN

This research covers reinforcement of unsaturated polyester resin by metal powders, and studying some of their mechanical properties.

The samples were prepared by hand lay-out technique.

The unsaturated polyester resin was reinforced by two types of metal powders Copper (15.598 μm) and aluminum (21.533μm) at selected volume fraction of (0, 5, 10.

15, 20 and 25 %).

The study of mechanical properties includes tensile properties (strength at fracture point, elastic modulus and elongation at at break), flexural strength and flexural modulus, impact properties and hardness.

The results show a noticeable increase in values of tensile strength at fracture point and tensile modules of elasticity, as the volume fraction of metal powder increase and reach to maximum value at 15 % volume ratio for both types, where as flexural strength, flexural modulus and fracture toughness reach to maximum value at 10 %volume ratio for both types composites, however elongation at break shows decrement as the volume fraction of metal powder is increased for both types composites.