Quartz Reinforced Unsaturated Polyester Resin Composites: Preparation and Characterization

Compression molding has produced quartz-reinforced polyester composites (QPCs) weighing 10 to 40 per cent quartz relative to the weight of unsaturated polyester resin. Synergistic changes were made in the composite properties and were superior to those of the individual components. The composite's physical and mechanical properties such as bulk density, water absorption , tensile strength, flexural strength, hardness have illustrated the competency of the composite being developed. It was found that for the resultant composite examined, the percentage of water absorption is very small. However, when quartz content were increased, water absorption grew very slowly. Enhancement of mechanical properties strongly corresponds to strong adhesion force of quartz with the matrix and it influenced by well-disperse quartz particles on the whole surface of composite. This paper also performed thermal characterization of the composites. Because of these remarkable properties, as prepared composite can find applications in packaging, fuel cell, solar cell, structural materials and households purposes.