17th International Fiber and Polymer Research Symposium

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Mechanical and Chemical Properties of CaCO3 Added Glass Fiber-Reinforced Composites

Authors :

Hurrem CANITEZ¹ Ayse BEDELOGLU²

1- Sazcılar Automotive 2- Bursa Technical University

Keywords :

composite،hand-lay up،calcium carbonate،mechanical properties،glass fiber

Abstract :

In this study, the effects of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) as a low-cost additive in unsaturated polyester resin (UP) were analysed. The samples were divided into two primary categories: unreinforced and reinforced composites. CaCO3 was added in proportions of 10%, 15%, and 20% to examine its effects on chemical and physical properties. As expected, CaCO3 increased the viscosity of the resin due to its nature as a filler, which increases resistance to flow. Higher CaCO3 content also reduced the gel time and increased the maximum temperature during the curing process, indicating faster reactions with more heat release. The liquid and solid densities of the resin rose as more CaCO3 was added, attributed to the filler’s higher density. However, pure UP outperformed CaCO3-modified samples in both tensile and flexural strength, suggesting that CaCO3, while beneficial for properties like density and stiffness, reduces the material's ability to withstand stretching and bending forces. Despite these changes, the barcol hardness test results were similar across all groups, showing that surface hardness was not significantly affected by CaCO3. In conclusion, although CaCO3 enhances properties like viscosity, density, and stiffness, it compromises mechanical performance in terms of tensile and flexural strength, making it a trade-off between cost-effectiveness and strength.