This
research covers reinforcement of unsaturated polyester resin by
metal powders, and studying some of their mechanical properties.
The samples were prepared by hand lay-out technique. The
unsaturated polyester resin was reinforced by two types of metal
powders Copper (15.598 µm) and aluminum (21.533µm) at selected
volume fraction of (0, 5, 10. 15, 20 and 25 %). The study of
mechanical properties includes tensile properties (strength at
fracture point, elastic modulus and elongation at at break),
flexural strength and flexural modulus, impact properties and
hardness. The results show a noticeable increase in values of
tensile strength at fracture point and tensile modules of
elasticity, as the volume fraction of metal powder increase and
reach to maximum value at 15 % volume ratio for both types,
where as flexural strength, flexural modulus and fracture
toughness reach to maximum value at 10 %volume ratio for both
types composites, however elongation at break shows decrement as
the volume fraction of metal powder is increased for both types
composites. Key words: composites, mechanical properties, metal
reinforcement |