Microwave Power Absorption Evaluation of River Shell Particles Reinforced Polyester Composite

Abstract

The objective of this research is to analyze the microwave power absorption properties of Unsaturated Polyester Resin (UPR) composite reinforced with micro size river-shell with an aim to figure out the new formed composites with the best microwave power absorption scenario. The composites were prepared by using river shell powder in micro-particle size as a filler material with unsaturated polyester composites. Using free-space transmission technique and within the x-band frequency range, the microwave power absorption properties were studied with varied percentages of river shell powder being loaded into the unsaturated polyester composites. River shells were introduced in an 50 microns particle size powder which was mixed in different weight percentages of 5, 10, and 15 % of a 12 cm square shape side length composite sample along with a thickness of 4 mm for each sample. The test specimens were prepared using the pre-mentioned weight amounts after mixing them with the Unsaturated Polyester Resin (UPR) compositions and in accordance with ASTM standard. Number of teste samples are four represented by pure, 5 %, 10 %, and 15 % of river-shell reinforced polyester composites. It has been found that the 5 % is the case when maximum power absorption presents higher levels than other loading percentages. Therefore, such kind of composites can be established under focus in those applications at which their trends is about necessity and importance of microwave power absorption.