Mechanical Properties of Particulate Filled Polymer Composites

The present work aims at developing a class of polymer composites consisting of thermoset polymer i.e. epoxy as a matrix material with a micro-size aluminium oxide as a filler material. A set of composites with varying loading of filler content ranging upto 50 wt. % has been fabricated using simple hand lay-up technique. The effect of filler content on various mechanical properties of such fabricated samples are investigated and presented in this work. The various mechanical property evaluated are tensile strength, compressive strength, flexural strength and hardness. The values obtained under controlled laboratory conditions are analyzed to identify its behavior under different loading conditions. From the experimental results, it is found that aluminium oxide filled epoxy composites possess high compressive strength, flexural strength and hardness. Through, tensile strength of the composite decreases with increase in filler content in the fabricated composites.