Optimum percentage of fly ash reinforcement in vinyl ester composites

Abstract

The previous work of another group of researchers found that the modulus of tension, flexural and compression increased with increasing percentage by volume of fly ash. They also documented that the viscosity of the composite increased exponentially with increasing percentage by volume of the filler. The viscosity increased sharply when the percentage by volume of reinforcer is between 35 to 50%. They failed to mention the highest percentage by weight of fly ash that could be added to the resin to get highest mechanical properties while still ensuring that the composite could be cast into moulds with ease. This project attempts to find out the optimum percentage by weight of slg in vinyl ester resin as far as yield strength, tensile strength, Young’s modulus and Poisson’s ratio of the composite are taken into account. The research found that 33% by weight of filler is a favourable and convenient percentage by weight of slg to use because up to this percentage by weight of reinforcement, the mechanical properties like modulus of tension are increasing with the increase in percentage by weight of filler, while at the same time the viscosity is not high enough to prevent ease of casting the composite into moulds.