The effects of fillers on the mechanical properties of polyester resin and a constrained optimization of filler content

A study was made to determine the effects of fillers on the mechanical properties of a flexible polyester resin. Also, a method was demonstrated for a constrained optimization of the volumetric cost of the filled polyester. The fillers investigated included clay, marble, nut shell flour, and glass beads and microspheres. Mechanical property data were generated for different filler concentrations and particle sizes. The properties tested were density, tensile strength, ultimate elongation, secant modulus, and flexural strength. Testing was performed according to standard methods using an Instron Universal Testing Machine with strain gage. Contrary to the results of previous investigators, rigid particulate fillers (e.g., clay, marble, and nut shell flour, excluding glass beads and microspheres) significantly increased the tensile strength of the resin. Increases in flexural strength were observed for certain fillers. Both tensile and flexural strength improvements were greater for smaller particles than for larger ones. The fillers increased the modulus and decreased the ultimate elongation of the resin. The method of optimization included an experimental design to generate data and a polynomial regression analysis to determine the mechanical property constraint functions. The constraints were well approximated by linear functions, and linear programming was used to find an optimum. The linear functions could also be used to give a reasonable approximation of the mechanical property constraints outside the experimental region.

Name thesis:degree_name

M.S.

Level thesis:degree_level

masters

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Chemical Engineering

Department dc:contributor.department

Chemical Engineering

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University

Year dc:date.issued

1970

Author dc:creator

• Jones, William Crawford

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/10919/101148

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/101148