Effect of Nanoclay particles in composites made via resin infusion process

Polymer filled nano-composite have attracted great interest in recent years, mainly due to remarkable improvements in properties. In this study, the effect of mold filling time on resin containing nano-clay (Closit 30B) and glass reinforcement in vacuum infusion process have been investigated. Unsaturated polyester resin containing 0, 3 and 5% nano-clay have been used. The nano-clay was introduced in to polyester resin using mechanical homogeniser, also, ordinary mixer were used to prepar resin filled with 5% nano-clay.The glass reinforcment used was continous filament mat of 300g/m2 areal weight. Mold filling time for different percentage of nano-clay content was measured. The result shows mold filling time increase of 3.2 times and 4.7 time for the samples containing 3% and 5% nano-clay respectivily in comparison with samples with no nano-clay. X-ray diffraction and TEM analysis as well as viscosity change in liquid state resin confirmed intercalation and exfoliation of the nanoclay in the unsaturated polyester resin system used This increase in mold filling time is directly attributed to increase in resin viscosity, showing increase of viscosity from 500cps for the resin with no nano-caly content to 1200 cps for sample with 3% nano-clay and 1600 cps for 5% contaning nano-caly. The result for mechanical properties revealed 19% and 23% increase in flextural modulus for samples which contained 3% and 5% nano-clay respectivily in comparison with sample with no nano-clay. But flextural strength showed better performance of 18% and 14% for 3% and 5% nano-clay containing samples. but, the impact strength decreased about 9% and 14% and tensile strength increased 28% and 22 % for sample with 3% and 5% nano-clay content. However, for samples which were prepared with ordinary mixer containing 5% nano-clay, the result showed reduction in flextural and tensile as much as, 11% and 16%. Sever filtartion of nano-clay were observred in the sample with 5% nano-clay prepared by homogeniser as a result of flow process. The filitration in sample with 3% nano-clay was limited to less than 8%.

کلیدواژه ها:

Unsaturatedpolyester resin ، Nanoclay ، Vacuum Infusion process ، Fiber glass ، nanocomposite