| Abstract: | The development of a polymer based functionally graded material (FGM) of desired composition profile by the centrifugation technique requires control on centrifugation, size, shape, and concentration of suspended particles, time, viscosity variation of polymerizing fluid, etc. A simulation was conducted to observe the compositional variations with time at different places of FGM, using a modified terminal velocity equation for particle movement in polymerizing fluid. It was further modified for the particles having different sizes. The simulation demonstrated two graded‐composition profiles each one in low concentration region from where particles were moved to the other part of sample and second high concentration profile in which particles entered to increase the concentration. The third region situated between the two composition profiles was observed as that of uniform distribution of particles and the length of this region can be controlled by adjusting the size of the centrifuged sample. The simulation was compared with the experimental results of FGM having SiC particles in polysulphide epoxy resin. POLYM. ENG. SCI. 46:1660–1666, 2006. © 2006 Society of Plastics Engineers |
