Mechanical Properties of Polyester Toughened with Nano-Silica

Abstract

The fabrication of nanocomposites has played role to the development of the nanotechnology and the technology of advanced composite materials. Thermoset polymers are used in engineering applications widely. Their mechanical properties can be change with adding particles. The mechanism of toughening polymers has been suggested recently by reinforcing well dispersed particles to the plain polymer. Nano-silica particles were added to thermoset polymer of polyester to evaluate their influence on the mechanical properties of the toughened polymer using both experimental and numerical methods. The Representative Volume Element (RVE) approach, which employs finite element models, has been developed to achieve that aim numerically for various types of nano-particle reinforcement ratios. In each case, the stiffness has been calculated with using the equivalent homogeneous material concept. Experimentally, toughened thermoset polymers of polyester reinforced with nano-silica were prepared with different particle content ratio. Several tests were conducted on the nanocomposite, and it was observed increasing nano-silica ratio caused increase in Young’s modulus and decrease in ductility.

Improved Mechanical Properties of Basalt and Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer Composite by Incorporating Nano Silica

“…This sequence underscores an apparent pattern: impact strength augmentation up to 1 wt% nano silica, succeeded by a diminishing trend at 3 Jig Sample wt% and 5 wt%. This distinctive behaviour can be attributed to the agglomeration phenomenon observed with nano silica [7]- [8]. The expansive surface area of nano silica particles makes them prone to clustering, especially at elevated concentrations.…”

The effect of nano-silica on the mechanical properties of composite polyester / carbon fibers

“…The development of ship and boat hulls has progressed through several stages, with the analysis currently being conducted using ANSYS composite materials as alternative materials for marine steel manhole covers because they weigh and cost less [12]. Researchers have investigated the effect of adding a silica nano-material to a thermoplastic polyester and its effect on the mechanical properties, with a unit of nano-composite material designed and analyzed using solid work software [13]. In this study, the carbon fiber was used as an alternative to aluminum in the structure of a high-speed riverboat used by the Iraqi Navy in shallow water [14] .…”