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Mechanical properties of granite powder as a filler for polycarbonate

toughened epoxy resin

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Aseel Abdulameer Kareem

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International Journal of Pharma Sciences
Vol. 3, No. 4 (2013): 254-257
Research Article
Open Access
ISSN: 2320-6810

Mechanical properties of granite powder as a filler

for polycarbonate toughened epoxy resin
Aseel. A. Kareem*
Department of Physics, College of Science, University of Baghdad

* Corresponding author: Aseel. A. Kareem; e-mail: aseelalobaedy@yahoo.com

Received: 5 May 2013 Accepted: 14 June 2013 Online: 05 July 2013

ABSTRACT
Granite powder filled polycarbonate (PC) toughened epoxy composites were prepared. The variation of the
mechanical properties such as tensile, flexural with filler content was evaluated. The effect of the chemical
resistance on the properties of these composites was studied. Results of mechanical properties, at least in this
study showed that the composites reinforced with 20% granite gave better mechanical properties.

Keywords: Granite, polymer blends, mechanical properties of composites

INTRODUCTION phase transformation toughening mechanism [3].

The properties of the composites are greatly influenced
by the type of reinforcement in the system. In the case
of particulate reinforced polymer composites, the
properties depend on the shape and size of the filler,
the amount that is compounded with the plastic, the
bonding between the filler and the plastic, the
toughness of the plastic and sometimes the toughness
of the filler apart from its chemical composition. Low-
cost particulate fillers are added to plastics in
commercial production primarily for reasons of
economy and improvement in molding characteristics
[1]. Thermoset resins such as epoxy and unsaturated
polyester have diversified application in innumerous
fields. Epoxy is widely used as a matrix material for
making many composites. However, it is brittle in
nature and has poor resistance to crack propagation
but the single matrix system has its own disadvantages,
like brittleness, evolution of volatiles during cure and
less resistance to crack propagation [2]. Most of
composites are made up of just two materials. One
material (the matrix or binder) surrounds and binds
together a cluster of fibers or fragments of a much
stronger material (the reinforcement). For the matrix,
many modern composites use thermosetting or
thermoplastic polymers (also called resins). The
plastics hold the reinforcement together and help to
determine the physical properties of the end product.
Recently many investigators are using thermoplastics
as toughening agents for epoxy. Among them,
polycarbonate (PC) is found to be effective due to its
Therefore, it is necessary to improve the fracture
properties of epoxy resin by adding other materials.
The available references recommend investigations on
a large number of materials to be used as fillers in
polymers [4]. Fillers have been used in earlier studies
In general, epoxies are known for their excellent
adhesion, chemical and heat resistance, good-to-
excellent mechanical properties and very good
electrical insulating properties [5]. Granite powder, a
byproduct obtained during the sizing of granite stones
by processing granite slabs has no end use. In the
present study, granite powder is used as the
reinforcement to the matrix system to prepare
composites [6]. Epoxies are also used in producing
fiber-reinforced or composite parts. They are more
expensive than polyester resins and vinyl ester resins,
but usually produce stronger and more temperature-
resistant composite parts. A radial mechanical property
develops as the polymer cools leading to an intimate
interaction between matrix and filler. The value of this
stress can be calculated, and depends on both polymer
and filler. Because of this, the interaction will at the
very least be mechanical, but other types will exist
depending on the surface chemistry of the filler and
also the chemistry of the polymer [7].
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The polymer used in this work is epoxy which is
commercial adhesive grade at room temperature
curable araldite Euxit50 resin K (Epoxy ) supplied by

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 Aseel. A. Kareem / Int J Pharma Sci. 2013, 3(4): 254-257
the Egyptian Swiss chemical industrials Co., with
formulated amine hardener in ratio 3:1 for curing. The
epoxy resin is a liquid with low viscosity and
transparent in color, the specific gravity of it at 20 °C is
1.05 g/cm3, a tensile strength of 61 MPa and a
compressive strength of 83 MPa.
Commercially available PC was obtained from local
suppliers, PC has a density 1.2 gm/m3.The particulate
composite was obtained with granite powder mixed
with an epoxy polymeric resin. Granite powder was
obtained from a locally available granite industry .The
granite powder was first washed thoroughly with
water and then dried at 100 ºC for 2-3 h before using it
for preparation of composites. Granite’s composition
shows feldspars and quartz minerals and the particle
size of the granite powder ranged from 1 to 100
micrometers, granite has a density of 2.6 Kg/cm3, a
Young Modulus of 60 to 80 GPa, a tensile strength of 23
MPa and a compressive strength of 65 to 150 MPa.
Preparing of polymer blend and composites
1- For blending of PC and epoxies, the PC pellets were
dissolved in chloroform and the solution was poured to
the beaker containing epoxy resin. The percentage of
mixing was 98%EP and 2%PC. Above this content, the
epoxy resin became highly viscous. The resin to
hardener ratio was maintained at 3:1 parts by weight
as suggested by the manufacturer. The chloroform was
evaporated by heating resin mixture at 80 oC. After
complete evaporation of the chloroform, the mixture of
PC and epoxy resin was stirred at 150 oC continuously
for 1h and then cooled to room temperature. Before
curing, the mixtures were degassed and poured into
moulds. The epoxy and hardener system was cured at
room temperature for 24 h and then post cured at 100
oC for 2 h to ensure complete curing. After that, the
mixture is lay – up in mold was made from glass of size
150×150×1 mm3. Glass silicon was used for joining
frames, and then plastic sheet was placed in the bottom
of the mold.
2- The same preparation of polymer blend composites
(as show above) before casting reinforced with (5,10,
15,20) Wt% granite then lay-up in mold when the
solidification process is finished the sample was cut
down in to standard dimensions ASTM.
Testing of Composites
Tensile Test
Tensile properties were tested in accordance with
ASTM-D638. This test method determines the in-plane
tensile properties of polymer matrix composite
materials.
The ultimate tensile strength of the composites was
calculated by dividing the maximum load prior to
failure by the cross sectional area (Equation 1).
Ftu =Pmax/A (1)
Where: Ftu = ultimate tensile strength, MPa
Pmax = maximum load prior to failure, N
A = average cross sectional area, mm2
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The tensile modulus (Equation 2) can be calculated
from the stress-strain data, within a given strain range,
normally 0.001 and 0.003.
E=Δσ/Δε (2)
Where: E = modulus, MPa
Δσ = difference in applied tensile stress between the
two strain points, MPa
Δε = difference between the two strain points
(normally 0.002)
Flexural Test
The flexural properties of the composites were tested
using ASTM D790-99, procedure A. This test method is
for determining the flexural properties of un-reinforced
and reinforced plastics by three-point bending.
The maximum stress or flexural strength can be
calculated by Equation 3.
S =3PL/4bd2 (3)
Where: P = Load at a given point on the load-deflection
curve, N
L = support span, mm
b = width of beam, mm
d = depth of beam, mm
For calculating the flexural modulus Equation 4 was
used.
EB=0.17L3m/bd3 (4)
where: EB = bending modulus( MPa),
L = support span, mm
b = width of beam, mm
d = depth of beam, mm
m = slope of the tangent of the initial straight line.
The chemical resistance of the blend matrix and the
composites was studied as per ASTM- D 570 method.
For this purpose, two strong acids (HCL and H2SO4)
with normality N=1. The pre-weighed samples were
dipped in chemicals for 3week, removed, washed
thoroughly with distilled water and dried immediately
by pressing them on both sides by filter paper.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The tensile strength, modulus and elongation at break
properties of 2% polycarbonate toughened 98%epoxy
resin reinforcement with granite powder composites
are presented and their variation is shown in Figures
1–3, respectively. From these figures, it is evident that
in all these cases, the tensile properties are found to
increase with filler content. The increase in the tensile
properties with filler content may be due to the
restriction of the mobility and deformability of the
matrix with the introduction of mechanical restraint,
and the filler particle size. Most investigators have
enumerated that particle size is inversely related to
reinforcing character and that an increase in surface
area (as a consequence of reduced particle size)
increases the composite mechanical properties [8,9].
Simultaneously, the higher stiffness of granite powder
as compared to the epoxy matrix in which the filler is
dispersed may also contribute to the above
enhancement. Further, it is found that the % elongation
at break decreased with filler content. This is
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understandable as the filler is stiffer than the matrix
[10].
Figure 1. Variation of tensile strength of 98% epoxy + 2% PC
with filler content without acid (●), with HCL (■) with
H2SO4(▲).
Figure 2. Variation of tensile modulus of 98% epoxy + 2% PC
with filler content without acid (●), with HCL (■) with
H2SO4(▲).
Figure 3. Variation of % Elongation at break of 98% epoxy +
2% PC with filler content without acid (●), with HCL (■) with
H2SO4(▲).
The flexural strength and flexural modulus variations
are shown in Figures 4 and 5 as a function of granite
powder content. In all the cases it was observed that
the 20wt% granite Powder filled composites show
maximum strength. From these figures it is evident that
the flexural properties are higher when PC was used in
the epoxy composites. A similar observation was made
by Ramakrishna et. al [11] in the case of Granite
Powder Composites on Toughening Epoxy with
Unsaturated Polyester and Unsaturated Polyester with
Epoxy Resin. The trend of the variation of flexural
properties with filler is similar to that of the variation
of tensile properties. Further, the enhanced flexural
strength properties of the composites over that of the
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matrix may be due to the stiff nature of the filler. In
addition, the presence of PC and platelet shape of
granite powder might have also contributed to such an
increase [12]. It was assumed that the space between
the granite powder particles was filled with the blend
matrix, thus minimizing the presence of voids and
bubbles and leading consequently to an increase in
both strength and modulus [10, 13].
Figure 4. Variation of flexural strength of 98% epoxy + 2% PC
with filler content without acid (●), with HCL (■) with
H2SO4(▲).
Figure 5. Variation of flexural modulus of 98% epoxy + 2%
PC with filler content without acid (●), with HCL (■) with
H2SO4(▲).
In the same figure we can see that the composites with
untreated with acid shows high modulus over other
composites studied indicating that it is more tough in
nature., this can be explained because of diffusion of
corrosive solution through the composites. This
diffusion were made by two mechanism: diffusion of
water through the interface region between the matrix
and filler and diffusion through the micro cracks inside
the composite, this leads to deterioration in the main
properties of composites, to make the hygroelasticity
results of increase swelling in polymer matrix, finally
the adsorption of moisture which leads to the
degradation of interfacial adhesion between filler and
matrix [14].
CONCLUSION
Toughening epoxy resin with 2wt% PC enhanced
tensile, flexural properties. The enhancement was
prominent in strength of all the composites .The
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 Aseel. A. Kareem / Int J Pharma Sci. 2013, 3(4): 254-257
mechanical properties of the composites under study
were maximized at 20% granite powder filler content.
The composites prepared had good chemical
resistance.
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