The present work aims at investigating the effect of locally produced clay (Algeria), along with the effect of their size and rate on physical and mechanical properties of the composite material. This study is divided into two parts: The first one is devoted to the study of the composite material based on epoxy resin with kaolin, using different size fractions at rates ranging from 2% to 20%. The second part examines epoxy resin-based composite with calcined kaolin (metakaolin) with regard to the influence of the structure, the particle size and the charge rate on the properties of the material. It is shown that the clay fillers give the epoxy resin different properties compared to the epoxy resin alone and, additionally, reduce the cost of materials. It was also observed that the fillers enhance the mechanical properties by increasing the rigidity of the material. There is a maximum value of 2.4 GPa to 18% kaolin, or more than 325% increase in the modulus of elasticity with respect to unfilled resin for the finer particle size. It was also found that the modulus of elasticity increases with increasing the loading rate. Indeed, the rigidity increases with increasing the filler rate. Moreover, for both fillers, lower fraction yields better results. Moreover, for both types of added fillers, lower fraction yields better results.

The subject of composite materials with reinforced filler has been studied recently. This study to improve both the dielectric and structural characteristics of diglycidyl ether of bisphenol a (DGEBA) focused on the appropriate use (from 5% to 60 wt%) of pozzolan filler mechanically grinded to obtain a very fine particle size (Ø < 10 μm) and area surface of 23.5 m2 g−1. The dielectric properties were investigated at great filler concentrations by weight. Epoxy microcomposite samples with a good dispersion of nanoparticles in the epoxy matrix were prepared and experiments were performed to measure the capacitance (C), the electrical resistance (R), and impedance (Z) as a function of frequency (1 kHz–10 kHz). Measurements were made using dielectric spectroscopy over the temperature range 25–80°C. Using the scanning electron microscope (SEM), the morphologies and structure of the surface and fracture surfaces of Pozzolan/DGEBA composites were observed. POLYM. COMPOS., 38:324–331, 2017. © 2015 Society of Plastics Engineers

The performances of composite materials are influenced by the properties of the matrix used. The latter ensures the desired form and the protection of the reinforcements against the external attacks. This work comprises a comparative study between laminates developed with different matrices in epoxy resin. Their characterization has to choose the best matrix able to give best results in static and dynamic tests. The resins used are provided by Granitex Algéria and which are primary Médapoxy STR resins, Médapoxy inject 812 and Médapoxy Al resin. Hence, the results of tensile tests prove a fragility of the AL resin which influences the maximal constraint of traction compared to the STR primary resin. Furthermore, Inject 812 resin shows very limited mechanical properties due to the changes of the epoxy network with the addition of diluents which has significantly decreased its viscosity.

This paper presents an experimental study which is determined the mechanical properties of a composite material sandwich multilayer developed in the laboratory of mechanics of materials and composites, Materials Research Unit, process and environment. This type of sandwich is composed of four layers laminated based on an epoxy resin reinforced by woven glass fibres and mast between which three plates of agglomerated cork with stacked alternately laminated layers. Specimens for bending tests three and four points were prepared from the multilayer sandwich panels. A first series of static three-point bending tests shows a clear difference in the fracture behaviour for materials, laminate and cork. These materials have undergone a large plastic deformation without rupture achieve full sandwich, with the onset of delamination between layers laminated material and cork. In order to determine the bending stiffness modules D, the shear modulus and flexural N and the shear modulus of the soul Ga, we conducted a second test campaign four points bending. As a result, we can develop a variety of white cork produced in Algeria in order to use it in the construction and automotive industries.

This paper presents an experimental investigation on the post-repair flexural response of mortars with and without damage. In order to improve the mechanical properties of the damaged mortars, which were subjected to different loads ranging between 40 % and 90 %, the mortars specimens were reinforced and repaired using two different composite materials, the first with only epoxy resin, while the second consisted of a mixture of epoxy resin and glass fiber. The results show a significant improvement in the stiffness damaged. Therefore, the reinforced specimens by a layer of resin on the lower side surface increased the bending strength by 58 %, when compared to those control samples. The reinforcement using composite resin-fiber of glass exhibited considerable increases in the safety of constructions. The SEM images of damaged samples with and without repair, revealed the impact of reinforced glass fibers-mortar on the matrix-mortar by improving theirs mechanical performances.