Fabrication and characterization of novel zirconia filled glass fiber reinforced polyester hybrid composites

Novel hybrid glass fiber reinforced polyester composites (GFRPCs) filled with 1-5 wt % microsized zirconia (ZrO2) particles, were fabricated by hand lay-up process followed by compression molding and evaluated their physical, mechanical and thermal behaviors. The consumption of styrene in cured GFRPCs was confirmed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The potential implementation of ZrO2 particles lessened the void contents marginally and substantially enhanced the mechanical and thermal properties in the resultant hybrid composites. The GFRPCs filled with 4 wt % ZrO2 illustrated noteworthy improvement in tensile strength (66.672 MPa) and flexural strength (67.890 MPa) while with 5 wt % ZrO2 showed 63.93% rise in hardness, respectively, as compared to unfilled GFRPCs. Physical nature of polyester matrix for composites and an improved glass transition temperature (T-g) from 103 to 112 degrees C was perceived by differential scanning calorimetry thermograms. Thermogravimetric analysis revealed that the thermal stability of GFRPCs was remarkably augmented with the addition of ZrO2. (c) 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2016, 133, 43615.