EFFECT OF MINERAL FILLERS ON PROPERTIES OF COMPOSITE MATRIX MATERIAL

The influence of mineral fillers on thermomechanical properties of mat rix material of composites is investigated. Different methods to deter mine elastic properties and thermal expansion coefficients of composit e materials have been considered and compared. Injection moulded polye ster samples containing varying concentrations of talc filler are rest ed and properties such as Young's modulus, thermal expansion coefficie nts, and volumetric shrinkage during cure are measured. Results obtain ed by theoretical models and from experiments are compared and discuss ed.