Influence of Aluminum Fine Powder Content on the Some Mechanical Properties of Epoxy and Polyester Composites

Abstract

In this study, the effect of aluminum powders on the some mechanical properties of epoxy (EP) and unsaturated polyester (UPE) composites was investigated. Aluminum powders (Al) were added to polymers with (0, 1, 3 and 5) %weight percentages. epoxy/Aluminum and unsaturated polyester/Aluminum composites were fabricated by the cast molding method. Maximum fracture forces, Maximum Extensions, Yield Points, Young Modulus, Tensile Strengths, flexural strength and ultimate compressive strength tests were performed on both composites. The results showed that the tensile strength of epoxy/Aluminum composites increased with increasing of additive percentage of Al powder, and the samples of EP/Al composite gained highest values of tensile strength (22.48 MPa) at ratio percent(5%). While the tensile strength of unsaturated polyester/Aluminum composites decreased with increasing of additive percentage of Al powder. Also the results showed that the samples of EP/Al composite gained highest values of flexural strength (58.63MPa) at weight percentage (1%).While the samples of UPE/Al composite gained highest values of flexural strength (91.88 MPa) at weight Percentage (3%). Finally, the value of compressive strength decreased with increasing of additive percentage of Al powder in both of EP/Al and UPE/Al composites.