Mechanical and thermal characterization of tungsten particulate reinforced epoxy polymer composites

Abstract

Polymer matrix composites find a wide range of industrial applications due to its unique properties like lightweight, improved strength and the properties could also be tailored to suit specific applications. In this present work, a new class of polymer matrix composites with epoxy resin as matrix and tungsten metal particles as fillers were developed. The influence of the addition of tungsten fillers on mechanical and thermal properties of the composites has been investigated. The composites are fabricated by hand lay-up method and the specimens containing tungsten particle content by 1%, 3%, 5%, 7% and 9% by weight were developed. The developed specimens were subjected to mechanical and thermal investigations. Mechanical behavior was analyzed by conducting a flexural test and hardness as per ASTM standards. Thermal behavior was analyzed by conducting Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) of the developed composites.  The results show that the addition of 7 wt. % filler has a higher value of flexural strength and hardness. Further addition of particulate fillers deteriorates the flexural strength and hardness due to agglomeration of filler content in the epoxy. Analysis by TGA and DSC shows that the thermal stability of composites is improved by increasing the addition of tungsten content in the epoxy.