Properties Evaluation of a Composite of Unsaturated Polyester Resin Reinforced with Mullite

Abstract

In this research a composite material consisting of unsaturated polyester (UPE)resin  reinforced by mullite particles with different weight ratios (0, 20, 40, and 60wt%) was prepared. The samples were studied for the effect of adding mullite on the electrical and mechanical properties of the composite. The composite material was prepared by a hand lay-up molding method. The results showed that the electrical properties (the real and imaginary dielectric constants) increased after reinforcement with the addition of mullite content but reduced with increasing frequency, whereas electrical conductivity reduced with increasing frequency and mullite content. The mechanical properties (tensile strength and hardness) increased after reinforcement with an increasing mullite content.

Keywords:Unsaturated polyester, Mullite, Dielectric constant, Tangent loss, Hand lay- Up molding.