A comparative study on industrial waste fillers affecting mechanical properties of polymer-matrix composites

This paper investigates the mechanical properties of the various inorganic filler-filled polymer composites. Sewage sludge ash (SSA), fly ash (FA) and silicon carbide (SiC) micro-particles were used as filler in the polyester resin. Composite samples were prepared with various filler content of 5, 10, 15 and 20 wt%. The results indicated that the tensile and flexural strength increased at the particle content of 5 wt% and then followed a decreasing trend with further particle inclusion. The tensile and flexural modulus values of the particulate polyester composites were significantly enhanced compared with the unfilled polyester composite. SEM micrograph results showed good indication for dispersion of FA, SSA and SiC particles within the polymer matrix. (paper)