On the stainless steel flakes reinforcement of polymer matrix particulate composites

Abstract

The present paper is dealing with the reinforcement of epoxy and high density polyethylene (HDPE) matrices using stainless steel flakes (SSFs). Particulate composite specimens of different wt SSFs contents up to 10% were produced for each case of polymer matrix. The so-obtained SSFs/epoxy and SSFs/HDPE composites underwent tensile, three-point bending and compression tests. The tensile and flexural performance of the composites of both matrices seemed to be negatively affected by the SSF loading. However, the response on plastic deformation under tensile loading for the SSFs/HDPE composites was considerably enhanced for low SSFs contents. The compression response was enhanced in the case of SSFs/HDPE composites as well. The tensile, flexural and compression performance is being explained on the basis of the microstructural observations for each case of reinforced matrix.