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Processing, characterization, and erosion wear characteristics of borosilicate glass microspheres filled epoxy composites
Author(s) -
Gupta Gaurav,
Satapathy Alok
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
polymer composites
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.577
H-Index - 82
eISSN - 1548-0569
pISSN - 0272-8397
DOI - 10.1002/pc.23079
Subject(s) - borosilicate glass , materials science , composite material , epoxy , glass microsphere , ultimate tensile strength , composite number , flexural strength , izod impact strength test , characterization (materials science) , taguchi methods , glass fiber , scanning electron microscope , wood flour , microsphere , chemical engineering , nanotechnology , engineering
In spite of significant research done in the field of particulate filled polymeric composites, reports on polymers filled with glass microspheres have been extremely rare. In view of this, the present work includes the processing, characterization, and erosion wear response of a new class of epoxy composites filled with different proportions of borosilicate glass microspheres. Hand lay‐up technique is used for making these composites in a laboratory scale. Various physical and mechanical properties are evaluated under controlled laboratory conditions. It is found that while the tensile and flexural strength are marginally influenced, the impact strength is improved quite significantly. Besides, multifold enhancement in composite microhardness is also noticed. Erosion trials are made as per the experimental design based on Taguchi's L 16 orthogonal array. Parametric appraisal of erosion process is made and influential parameters affecting the wear rate predominantly are identified. The results indicate that erosion wear rate of these composites is influenced more significantly by impact velocity and filler content respectively compared to others factors. The eroded composite samples are studied using scanning electron microscopy and possible wear mechanisms are discussed. POLYM. COMPOS., 36:1685–1692, 2015. © 2014 Society of Plastics Engineers