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JJEM Sixth Issue - Volume 3 Number 2 -2019

Volume 1, Issue 1


Experimental Study of Effect of Pongomia Pod Powder as Filler on Some Mechanical, Thermal and Fire Resistant Properties of Areca Phenolic Resin Composites


Published:    2017-06-30


Authors


Ravi Kumar B N,  R. Shankara Reddy


Abstract


Polymeric Composites are the wonder materials becoming an essential part of today’s life. When these composites are exposed to heat above the glass transition temperature of resin matrix, this leads to reduction in stiffness and strength of material and degrades the mechanical properties due to thermal degradation and combustion of the resin. This poor fire resistance of composites has been a major factor to limit their wide spread of applications. Composites require high flame retardancy which can be obtained by adding a filler material. Thus improving the thermal properties and fire retardant behaviour of polymers was a main challenge for extend their use to most of the applications. In fabrication of composite specimen process, the proportion of the Phenolic resin (primary phase) was fixed to 65% by volume. It is mixed with varying proportion of areca fibre (5%, 10%, 15% and 35%) and pongamia shell powder (30%, 25%, 20% and 0%) by volume to weight ratio and represented by APC05, APC10, APC15 and APC35 respectively. The prepared composite mixer was poured into mould cavity, kept it in an oven and heated to the temperature of 140°C for about 20 minutes. Finally it is cooled to the room temperature for about 24 hours. Mechanical, thermal and fire resistant properties are investigated. Thermal properties improved with increase in pongamia shell powder. Thermal stability, fire resistance properties and mechanical properties increases with increase in fibre proportion. It is expected optimum composition of the current work APC15 will be used in Aircraft industries, Aerospace applications, Chemical industries, Electrical s/m and Electronics, Automobiles, Ship building, Wind turbine blades, Thermal encapsulation, Flip chip applications, Thermal interface materials and even in the engine parts of modern automobiles.


Keywords


Fire Resistant, Filler, Heat Deflection Temperature,Limiting Oxygen Index.