Polyester resins are widely used as a matrix in polymer composites, but polymerization of these resins will result in brittleness due to high cross linking level. This research focus on modification thermoset polymer by addition of a low molecular weight reactive liquid rubber that can improve fracture toughness and impact strength of cured polyester. Liquid natural rubbers were prepared through photochemical degradation process. It is an oxidation process of natural rubber. Liquid natural rubber (LNR) will increase strength of produced composite..
Polymer Nanocomposite
Polymer nanocomposites are a group of materials defined as polymers in which a small amount of nanofillers (1-100 nm in size) are homogeneously distributed. Nano-sized materials can have different properties to their bulk counterpart, originating from nano-crystals size. Nano-crystals measure a few nanometers containing few hundred atoms. In this way, nano-materials can show unique properties such as thermal, electronic, magnetic, structural and so on.This research is more likely focusing on thermoset polymers (polyester) due to their outstanding properties as encapsulants in electronic packaging. Polyesters were important class of high performance and engineering polymers, which found use in a number of diverse applications. Unsaturated polyester resin were chosen first for making fibre reinforced plastics (FRP) by any molder because of the ease of handling and fabrication and the low cost as compared to epoxy resin . The addition of fillers such as clays minerals to polymers can improve their mechanical performances, fire retardancy and barrier resistance, and thermal and electrical conductivites, whereas optical properties are preserving when the mineral particles are sufficiently small. This composite expected to be applied in the interior of passenger cars, naval technology, offshore applications and waterlines. This is a quality local product from a combination of good properties polyester and high performance reinforcement suitable for many applications such as in automotive sector and construction sector.
