Advanced phenolic resin composites: exploring the synergy of microsilica and microcellulose fillers for enhanced properties in polymer matrix composites

Date

2024-9-4

Author

Özgör, Erol Cem

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Phenolic resin, used as a matrix material in the aerospace industry, is often combined with fiber reinforcements to create polymer matrix composites. To enhance the mechanical and thermal properties of phenolic resin, this study incorporated various fillers: 10, 25, and 50 µm silica particles and 58, 75, and 150 µm cellulose microspheres. The resin was characterized before and after curing using DSC, FTIR, and NMR, while filler particles were analyzed via SEM. Two methods were employed for filler addition. First, fillers were mixed into the resin and cured using an optimized profile, with curing confirmed by FTIR and DSC, and dispersion verified by SEM. Mechanical tests, including tensile and 3-point bending, demonstrated that filler addition, particularly cellulose, improved both tensile and flexural strength. Thermal performance was assessed through TGA and oxy- acetylene tests. Silica-filled materials showed increased ash yield in TGA, whereas cellulose-filled materials did not outperform the unfilled resin. In the oxy-acetylene test, fillers did not enhance erosion resistance. In the second approach, fillers were added to phenolic resin with silica fiber reinforcement to produce a composite. DSC confirmed curing, and SEM verified filler dispersion. Mechanical testing revealed reduced tensile properties but increased Young’s modulus with filler addition. Thermal tests, including TGA, oxy-acetylene, and thermal conductivity, showed that silica-filled composites performed better than unfilled and cellulose-filled counterparts in oxy-acetylene tests, while cellulose-filled composites did not improve TGA results and reduced erosion performance.

Subject Keywords

Microsilica, Microcellulose, Phenolic resin, Polymer matrix composites, Fiber reinforced composites

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11511/111445

Collections

Graduate School of Natural and Applied Sciences, Thesis