Flexural strength of three types of glass powder reinforced vinyl ester composites

Abstract

Composites can be obtained from the combination of various materials, as long as the materials are distinct at a macroscopic level. The significant benefit of using composites is their superior mechanical properties (such as strength, corrosion resistance, light weight, etc.) as well as low manufacturing cost during mass production. When very fine (powder) spherical, hollow glass beads are mixed with Vinyl Ester (VE) resin and a catalyst such as MEKP (Methyl ethyl ketone peroxide) are mixed together, the chemical reaction that takes place between the VE and MEKP binds the glass beads in a strong bond and becomes a composite of stronger mechanical properties than the glass spheres. Therefore, there is scope to form specimens of different types of glass powder sphere reinforced composites and analyse them for their flexural behaviour. From such analysis, it would be possible to come up with conclusions on the appropriateness of future research and commercialisation of the composite