Experimental studies of fly ash filled polyester composite using ultrasonic cavitation method

Abstract

The particles filled resin matrix composites is being utilized in newlinevarious structural and functional applications due to its lower density and newlinehigh strength to weight ratio. Among the various fillers used in synthetization newlineof polymer matrix composites, the fly ash filled is widely used in recent newlinescenario owing to its easy availability. The Fly Ash (FA) particles are newlineobtained as a residue during combustion of coal in thermal power plants. newlineSince FA particles contains oxides of silicon, calcium and iron as fine newlineparticles which cause severe damage to environment by polluting air, land newlineand water. It is possible to utilize FA particles as fillers for synthesizing newlinepolymer composites to overcome the issue. newlineFrom the literature survey it is observed that the effect of particle newlinesize plays a significant role on the mechanical properties of polymer newlinecomposites. (Satheesh Raja et al. 2014), found that the addition of FA particles newlineof size 10 to 50 microns and amount of 5 to 25 weight percentage could newlineenhance the mechanical properties of glass fibre reinforced polymer matrix newlinecomposites. It is found that the utilization of larger size particles could newlineresulted be improper bonding with resin and settling down of such particles newlineduring the curing stage. newline