Fabrication and Characterization of E-Glass Fiber Reinforced Unsaturated Polyester Resin Based Composite Materials

Abstract

E-glass fiber mat reinforced Unsaturated Polyester Resin (UPR)-based composites were fabricated by conventional hand lay-up technique. The fiber content was varied from 5 to 50% by weight. Mechanical properties (tensile and bending) of the fabricated composites were investigated. The tensile strength (TS) of the 5% and 50% fiber reinforced composites was 32 MPa and 72 MPa, respectively. Similarly, tensile modulus, bending strength and bending modulus of the composites were increased by the increase of fiber loading. Interfacial properties of the composites were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the results revealed that the interfacial bond between fiber and matrix was excellent. Keywords: Unsaturated Polyester Resin, Mechanical Properties, E-glass Fibers, Composites, Polymer.