Fiber Reinforced Polyester Resins Polymerized by Microwave Source |
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Authors: | AM Visco L Calabrese P Cianciafara L Bonaccorsi E Proverbio |
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Affiliation: | (1) Dipartimento di Chimica Industriale ed Ingegneria dei Materiali, Università di Messina, Contrada Di Dio, S.Agata, Messina, I-98166, Italia |
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Abstract: | Polyester resin based composite materials are widely used in the manufacture of fiberglass boats. Production time of fiberglass
laminate components could be strongly reduced by using an intense energy source as well as microwaves. In this work a polyester
resin was used with 2% by weight of catalyst and reinforced with chopped or woven glass fabric. Pure resin and composite samples
were cured by microwaves exposition for different radiation times. A three point bending test was performed on all the cured
samples by using an universal testing machine and the resulting fracture surfaces were observed by means of scanning electron
microscopy (SEM). The results of mechanical and microscopy analyses evidenced that microwave activation lowers curing time
of the composite while good mechanical properties were retained. Microwaves exposition time is crucial for mechanical performance
of the composite. It was evidenced that short exposition times suffice for resin activation while long exposure times cause
fast cross linking and premature matrix fracture. Furthermore high-radiation times induce bubbles growth or defects nucleation
within the sample, decreasing composite performance. On the basis of such results microwave curing activation of polyester
resin based composites could be proposed as a valid alternative method for faster processing of laminated materials employed
for large-scale applications. |
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Keywords: | composite materials flexural tests microwaves curing polyester resin |
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