Experimental and statistical analysis on mechanical properties of nano flyash impregnated GFRP composites using central composite design method

Abstract

Nano flyash impregnated Glass Fibre Reinforced Polymer composites (GFRP) were fabricated using various sizes of filler materials (1000nm, 264nm, 198nm, 94nm & 68nm) by handlayup method. Chemical composition and crystallographic structure of the obtained nanoflyash particles were confirmed by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and by X-ray diffraction (XRD) techniques. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) was used for characterization of surface morphology of the composite as well as distribution of the nano flyash. Effect of flyash filler size on the fractured surface morphology of the composites is analysed by using the FESEM images. The mechanical properties studied such as tensile strength, compressive strength, flexural strength and hardness of nano flyash impregnated GFRP were significantly enhanced compared with micro flyash impregnated GFRP. Experimental results obtained in this study were statistically analysed using Central Composite Design (CCD) method. A graphical and numerical optimization technique was used to find the predicted value of the responses.