Physical Mechanical and Tribological Behavior of Epoxy Based Hybrid Composites Filled with Kota Stone Dust and Fly Ash

Abstract

This thesis presents an experimental study on the physical, mechanical and tribological behaviour of newlinea new class of polymer-based single filler composites and hybrid filler composites. The main newlineobjective of the work is to explore the possibility of using waste generated from the Kota stone newlineindustry and thermal power plant as filler material in polymeric resin in order to develop a new newlineclass of composite bodies suitable for light-duty structural applications. The thesis is comprised of newlinethree parts. The first part of the thesis provided a description of the material used, the method used newlinefor the fabrication of composites, details of experiments that are conducted during the research and newlinethe different optimization technique used for the conduction of experiments (Taguchi Method) and to newlineget the best suitable combination of matrix and filler (AHP and TOPSIS). The second part of the newlinethesis presents the test results in regards to the physical, mechanical and tribological properties of newlineepoxy filled with a single filler i.e. only Kota stone dust. This part presents the effect of adding Kota newlinestone dust in different proportions in the epoxy matrix on different properties under investigation. newlineThe last part of the thesis presents the test results in regards to the physical, mechanical and newlinetribological properties of epoxy filled with hybrid fillers i.e. Kota stone dust in combination with fly newlineash. This part presents the effect of adding hybrid fillers in different proportions in the epoxy matrix newlineon different properties under investigation. newlineBy incorporating the Kota stone dust and the Kota stone dust in combination with fly ash, newlinesynergistic effects, as expected are achieved in the form of modified physical properties, mechanical newlineproperties and wear resistance. Inclusion of Kota stone dust and fly ash in neat epoxy has resulted newlinein an improvement in the load-bearing capacity (tensile strength) and in the ability to withstand newlinebending (flexural strength) of the composites when added in a limited quantity, wherea