Effect fire clay powder in epoxy- novolac composite

Abstract

In this work the mechanical properties and water absorption of epoxy composites reinforced with fire clay powder are investigated. The epoxy resin type Conbextra EP10 and Aphenolic novolac resin which made in (Al SAWARI COMPANY) and size (75 Mesh) with (hexa methylene tetra amine) (HMTA) as hardener in 15wt. %.  were  used as a matrix material.  The reinforcement particulate materials are fire clay powder with size (105μm) and having weight fraction of 10%, 15%, 20%, 25% and 30%. The parameters such impact strength, shore D hardness, elongation test were carried out on the prepared samples after immersed in distill water in various time. Test results indicate that hardness, impact strength of the composite materials which immersion in water at different time is significantly higher than those of the matrix material. The enhancements in these properties are found to be directly proportional to the weight fraction of fire clay powder. The values of shore hardness 79.4 and 83.4 when the weight fraction 10% and 30% respectively after immersion seven weeks. At the same time the elongation of specimens were increased when the weight fraction of reinforcement increased but after immersion in different time the elongation of samples decreased for the same weight fraction of fire clay.

The fire clay powder has a positive influence on elongation of epoxy composite but the immersion led to negative influence on elongation. The immersion for all samples in water led to increasing the absorption.