Studies on Mechanical and Fractographic Behavior of Polycarbonate-Toughened Epoxy-Granite Particle Hybrid Composites

Abstract

Epoxy resin based on diglycidyl ether of bisphenol-A (DGEBA type) was toughened with varying weight fractions, i.e., from 0 to 10% of thermoplastic polycarbonate (PC). Compression and impact properties of the toughened resin matrix were investigated. Epoxy containing 6 wt% of PC showed highest strength and modulus. Further, composites were prepared with varying percentage viz., 30 to 60 wt% of silane coupling agent treated granite particle (TGP) loading with 6 wt% PC toughened epoxy resin as matrix. Mechanical properties such as compression and impact behaviour of these composites were assessed and catalogued. Fractographic studies of the composites have been carried out using scanning electron microscopy (SEM).

Keywords:

• Compression and impact behavior
• Epoxy resin
• Fractographic studies
• Granite powder
• Polycarbonate

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

One of the authors Mr. Shetty Ravindra Rama thanks the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), New Delhi, India for awarding Senior Research Fellowship (SRF) (09/119(0174) 2K8-EMR-I).