The DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT OF GLASS FIBER REINFORCED POLYMER MATRIX COMPOSITES FOR ENGINEERING APPLICATION

Abstract

An experimental investigation has been carried out to develop new PMC using commercially available Epoxy and Polyurethane resin systems. These resin systems would be reinforced with glass fibers, filler materials and aluminium foils. Laminates are prepared by using the hand lay-up techniques of eight layers and mechanical test such as tensile test and compression test have been conducted. This work has been carried out to identify the appropriate resin systems, filler materials and glass fiber reinforcement to estimate the strength of the composite. Two types of glass fiber (chopped mat & woven mat) with reinforcement of filler material and aluminium foil used to estimate the strength of composite.As per the results from the present experimental study, reinforcing aluminium foil and graphite filler
in the chopped mat with Epoxy resin has high tensile strength compared to woven mat reinforcement. By reinforcing filler material has high tensile and compressive strength, the properties of the laminate is increased due to the filler material reinforcement in Epoxy resin as well as in Polyurethane resin.The properties of the laminate are increased due to the filler material reinforcement in both resin systems. From this investigation we conclude that filler material plays very important role in
composite system. In both epoxy and polyurethane resin system by reinforcing filler material the mechanical properties and strength of the laminate under tensile and compression are increased. By comparing two resin systems Polyurethane resin has high strength in tensile and compressive loads.