Effect of particle type and its surface characteristics on the mechanical properties of particle‐filled polymer composite for precision machine tools

Abstract

AbstractFor excellent damping properties, polymer composite (PC) has drawn particular attention in the field of modern ultra‐precision machining (UPM). However, applications of PC are restricted due to its inferior mechanical strength. In this paper, different granite coarse aggregate, different fine aggregate, and different filler were added into PC to increase its mechanical strength. The effects of coarse aggregate type, fine aggregate type, filler type on the mechanical strength of particle‐filled polymer composite (PFPC) were investigated systematically. Experimental results show that the best mechanical strength was obtained when the coarse aggregate type is Jinan clay granite, the fine aggregate is Jinan clay granite, and the filler is fly ash (FA). Results also show that the compressive strength of PFPC was closely correlated with the compressive strength of aggregate rock, and the compressive strength of PFPC increases with the increasing compressive strength of the aggregate rock. In order to further improve the mechanical strength of PFPC, the aggregate was subsequently treated by ultrasonication, direct mixing silanization, nebulizing silanization, macerating silanization. And four types of PFPC were obtained, that is, U‐PFPC, D‐PFPC, N‐PFPC, M‐PFPC, respectively. Among these four types of PFPC, the M‐PFPC exhibited the best mechanical strength. And the compressive strength and flexural strength of M‐PFPC are 146.97 MPa and 37.33 MPa, respectively; increased by 8.31% and 13.53% compared with PFPC produced by standard pouring technologies. In addition, the mechanism of the influence of the aggregate whose surfaces were treated on the mechanical strength of PFPC was revealed by scanning electron microscopy and contact angle test. The test results show that the M‐PFPC exhibited the favorable interface bond. This study was of great significance to increase the mechanical properties of PC and improve its application in precision machine tools.