Mechanical and thermal properties of unsaturated polyester/calcium carbonate nanocomposites

作者：Baskaran Rajendran; Sarojadevi Muthusamy; Vijayakumar Chinnaswamy Thangavel^*

来源：Journal of Reinforced Plastics and Composites, 2011, 30(18): 1549-1556.

DOI：10.1177/0731684411424630

• nano-CaCO(3)
• unsaturated polyester resin
• nanocomposites
• mechanical properties
• thermal properties

In this study, the nano-sized calcium carbonate (CaCO(3)) is synthesized using an in situ deposition technique and characterized using TEM. The particle size is found to be around 50-60 nm. Nanocomposites of UPR and nano-CaCO(3) particles are prepared by casting technique. The TEM study demonstrates that nano-CaCO(3) particles are dispersed in a UPR matrix uniformly and few agglomerations are found at and above 5 wt% of nano-CaCO(3) in the UPR matrix. XRD studies reveal the formation of nanocomposites. The mechanical and thermal properties of UPR/CaCO(3) nanocomposites are better than those of pure UPR. Up to 5 wt% loading of nano-CaCO(3) in the UPR matrix, the tensile, flexural, and impact strengths slightly improved. The flexural modulus increases with increase in nano-CaCO(3) concentration. The morphology of the impact fracture surface of nanocomposites is analyzed by means of SEM. The dynamic mechanical analysis of the nanocomposites clearly indicates a progressive increase in T(g) with the progressive addition of nano-CaCO(3) till a loading of 5 wt% of nano-CaCO(3) in the unsaturated polyester resin.

• 出版日期2011-9