Fracture analysis of vinyl ester composites under microwave condition

Tsang, Shing Hin (2004) Fracture analysis of vinyl ester composites under microwave condition. [USQ Project]

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Abstract

Vinyl ester (VE) with 33% Flyash composite has been widely used in the construction industry due to its superiority material properties but these composites suffer considerable shrinkage during the curing and hardening processes. Some researchers have proven that vinyl ester composite cured under microwave heat treatment will reduce the shrinkage problem. This purpose of this project is to research, measure and compare the fracture toughness of vinyl ester composite cured under ambient and microwave conditions by using the short bar test. Furthermore, the fracture surface is investigated by using the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The specimens were fractured by using the MTS 810 Material Testing Systems and the value of fracture toughness was obtained through some calculations. The result was further proven from the SEM microscopy analysis where the lower value of fracture toughness specimen will have more microvoid or bubbles comparing to the specimen with the higher value of fracture toughness. The result analysis tool called Latin Squares was used to determine which treatments were most effective in maintaining the fracture toughness while reducing the shrinkage of vinyl ester composite, and by how much, and which are worthless, so we can weight the economic alternatives.


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Item Type: USQ Project
Refereed: No
Item Status: Live Archive
Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: Historic - Faculty of Engineering and Surveying - Department of Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering (Up to 30 Jun 2013)
Date Deposited: 11 Oct 2007 00:14
Last Modified: 02 Jul 2013 22:30
Uncontrolled Keywords: vinyl ester, shrinkage, fracture toughness, short bar test, scanning electron microscope, MTS 810, microvoid, Latin Squares
Fields of Research (2008): 09 Engineering > 0912 Materials Engineering > 091202 Composite and Hybrid Materials
Fields of Research (2020): 40 ENGINEERING > 4016 Materials engineering > 401602 Composite and hybrid materials
URI: https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/80

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