Effect of fly ash filler size on mechanical properties of polymer matrix composites

In this work, fly ash has been used as filler material in epoxy polymer to produce particulate reinforced polymer composites. The chemical composition of fly ash and its particle size plays an important role in the enhancement of physical and mechanical properties of polymer matrix composites (PMC). Here four different sizes of fly ash (50 μm, 480 nm, 350 nm, 300 nm) with 10 wt % are impregnated with epoxy resin to process the PMC by using simple mold arrangement. The size reduction is obtained by means of ball milling technique. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) are used to characterize the fly ash. Mechanical properties such as hardness and impact strength are analyzed as per ASTM standards. It was found that size reduction of fly ash particle enhanced the strength of PMC. Keywords—Epoxy, Fly ash, filler material, Mechanical properties, PMC I INTRODUCTION ARTICULATE composite material consisting of polymer resin as matrix and particle as reinforcement one. The particles in these composite are larger than in dispersion strengthened composites. The particle diameter is typically on the order of a few microns. In this case, the particles carry a major portion of the load. The particles are used to increase the modulus and decrease the ductility of the matrix. An example of particle reinforced composites is an automobile tire which has carbon black particles in a matrix of polyisobutylene elastomeric polymer. Particle reinforced composites are much easier and less costly than making fiber reinforced composites. With polymeric matrices, the particles are simply added to the polymer melt in an extruder or injection molder during polymer processing. Similarly, reinforcing particles are added to a molten metal before it is cast. Particulate reinforced polymer composite materials are used for various engineering applications to provide unique physical and mechanical properties with a low specific weight. It is usually reinforced with fillers to achieve better mechanical strength. These fillers can be chosen as fibers (glass, carbon and aramid) or particles such as ceramic powders. Particles usually have dimensions in the range of 1- 10 or even more micrometers. Small ceramic particles are known to enhance the mechanical and tribological properties of polymers. Introduced into an epoxy resin, the filler