On the use of an instrumented set-up to characterize the impact behaviour of an epoxy system containing varying fly ash content

Abstract

The impact response of a varying fly ash bearing epoxy system was studied. It is observed that with the increase in filler volume fraction there is a net reduction in the impact strength, fracture area and time to maximum load. The Ductility Index of the system, on the other hand, shows an increase with filler level. From visual observations on the failed samples, analyses of the crack length, shift of crack and point at which the slope of the crack reaches 45°are made. The work clearly shows that a curvilinear path for the crack gives place to straighter ones as the ash content in the matrix increases. Consequently, the crack shift also gets reduced when filler particles are introduced in larger quantities into the resinous system. The SEM pictures unambiguously demonstrate how the initiation, propagation and termination regions have distinct appearances whose features vary with ash content, thereby demonstrating that ash particles do influence the crack at all stages, viz., from its development to final rupture of the test coupon due to impact. The work also throws light on the larger-sized particles playing a role in the furtherance of the crack progression. 

Mechanical and morphological properties of fly ash/epoxy composites using conventional thermal and microwave curing methods

“…The demand for lightweight materials, such as for concrete construction applications, with high strength and stiffness has led to the development of fly ash based thermosetting resins. There have been a small number of material technologists having interests in using of the fly ash (FA) as filler in polymer materials [2][3][4][5][6]. Chand [2] studied the effect of volume fraction of fly ash on the mechanical properties of unsaturated polyester composites, and found that increasing the volume fraction of fly ash reduced the tensile and impact strengths of the composites, this corresponding to the work by Kishore et al [3] for epoxy composite system.…”

“…There have been a small number of material technologists having interests in using of the fly ash (FA) as filler in polymer materials [2][3][4][5][6]. Chand [2] studied the effect of volume fraction of fly ash on the mechanical properties of unsaturated polyester composites, and found that increasing the volume fraction of fly ash reduced the tensile and impact strengths of the composites, this corresponding to the work by Kishore et al [3] for epoxy composite system. In fibreepoxy composites, the addition of fly ash led to a reduction of the density and an increase in modulus of the composites, the latter effect being caused by an improved dispersion of the fiber in the matrix [4].…”

Mechanical Properties of Epoxy Resin – Fly Ash Composite

“…The demand for the light weight materials such as for surfaces of ships had led to the development of fly -ash based thermosetting resins [2][3][4][5][6]. In fibre epoxy composites the addition of fly ash led to a reduction of the density and increase in modulus of composites [4].…”

Flexural Behavior of Functionally Graded Sandwich Composite

“…Fly ash also consists to some extent hollow spherical particles termed as cenosphere which aid in maintenance of lower density values for the composite, a feature of considerable significance in weight-specific applications [35][36]. Again, as the fillers do not come under irregular shape, the resin spread, is better and as the ashes are essentially a mixture of solid, hollow and composite particles displaying near isotropic properties, developing newer and utilitarian systems using them should be an interesting and challenging task [37].…”