STUDY OF MECHANICAL STRENGTH OF POLYESTER-BISMUTH OXIDE POLYMER COMPOSITES

Mechanical Engineering

National Conference on "Recent Advances in Materials Science & its Applications" & "Recent Trends in Electrical, Electronics, Computing and Information Technology"

An attempt has been made in the present study to enhance the mechanical strength of the polyester resin by adding bismuth oxide into the polyester matrix by using a simple open mould cast technique. Scanning Electron Microscopy technique was employed to study the distribution and dispersion of the additive into the matrix. Tensile and compression measurements were carried out as per ASTM standards using Universal Testing Machine. A good dispersion and distribution throughout the matrix was observed through the SEM images up to the sample consisting of 40 wt % additive, beyond which, there was formation of agglomerates within the matrix. The results reveal that, the tensile strength of the pure polyester which was found to be 16MPa has increased to 25MPa with an addition of 40% Bi2O3. The tensile modulus of the composites also increases linearly with increase in the additive wt% and is found to range from 1.4GPa to 2GPa. Unlike tensile strength and modulus, the compression strength of the composites increases with increase in the wt % of additive up to 40%. Further increase in the additive wt% resulted in the reduction of the compression strength of the composites. This may be due to the reason that, the presence of Bi2O3 beyond 40 wt% may be acting as stress concentrators leading to rapid cracking during compression loading of these samples. Thus, the addition of Bismuth Oxide has resulted in the enhancement of tensile and the compression strength of the polymer.

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