Response surface methodology based evaluation of S-glass fibre composite reinforced with aluminium oxide/pearlite hybrid nano particles

ABSTRACT

The affinity towards utilisation of Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymers (GFRPs) is its exceptional and distinctive properties. These are substitutional to conventional materials with added benefits upon incorporation of filler materials into the glass/epoxy polymer composites. The present work focused in order to prepare hybrid S-Glass nanocomposite samples with a mix of nano Al₂O₃ (1.0 Wt% to 3.0 Wt%) and nano perlite powder (3.0 Wt% to 9.0 Wt%) with different weight percentages. According to the Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and its experimental design, the hybrid S-glass/Al₂O₃/Nano perlite composite was prepared using hand layup process. Further, the fabricated samples were processed as per ASTM standards and the mechanical characteristics were investigated. Thus, the responses Tensile strength and Flexural strength were recorded, optimised using RSM and anlysed using Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). Also, statistical techniques were applied to verify the experimental results. The optimal weight percentages of nano Al₂O₃ powder and nano Perallite powders are 2% for obtaining maximum tensile strength and 3% to obtain maximum flexural strength, respectively. The water absorption test was carried for obtained optimal sample and water uptake pattern has been recorded as per ASTM D570.

KEYWORDS:

• S-glass fiber
• nano Al₂O₃
• perlite nano-powders
• water absorption
• response surface methodology

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Omega Labs, Chennai, for conducting the mechanical tests for the specimens.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.