The Preparation and PhysicoChemical Study of Glass, Jute and Hybrid Glass-Jute Bisphenol-C-Based Epoxy Resin Composites

Abstract

Glass-PA (EC-G-PA), Jute-PA (EC-J-PA), Glass-Jute-Glass (EC-GJG-PA), Jute-Glass-Jute (EC-JGJ-PA) composites of epoxy resin of bisphenol-C (EBC) have been prepared using a hand lay-up technique at 150°C under 27.58 MPa pressure for 6 h by using phthalic anhydride as a curing agent. EC-G-PA, EC-J-PA EC-GJG-PA and EC-JGJ-PA Possess 34, 41, 27 and 21 MPa tensile strength; 34, 27, 19 and 22 MPa flexural strength; 1.9, 1.0, 1.6 and 1.3 kV/mm electric strength and 4.2 × 10¹³, 1.2 × 10⁹, 8.7 × 10¹¹ and 4.0 × 10¹¹ ohm.cm volume resistivity. Hydrolytic stability of the composites was tested against water, 10% aq. HCl and NaCl solutions at 35°C and also in boiling water. The percent water uptake, equilibrium time and diffusivity of the composites have been determined and discussed their possible applications.

Keywords:

• Composites
• Diffusivity
• Tensile and flexural strengths
• Water absorption

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors are thankful to Directors, Crest Composites, Ahemdabad and ERDA Vadodara for testing of the composites; UGC-New Delhi for major research project grant.