Mechanical, Thermal, and Microscopic Profile of Novel Glass Fiber‐Reinforced Polyester Composites as a Function of Barium Sulfate Loading

Abstract The objective of this work was to fabricate laminated glass fiber‐reinforced polyester composites using different loadings of barium sulfate (BaSO4) to enhance their mechanical and thermal properties. Dispersion of BaSO4 in unsaturated polyester resin was prepared before impregnating it on glass fibers. These laminated composites were then subjected to analyze different mechanical and thermal properties. Mechanical properties of the composites were observed to be increased by increasing the BaSO4 loading up to 4 wt.%, beyond this a decreasing trend was observed. Flexural strength and flexural modulus of BaSO4‐infused glass fiber‐reinforced polyester composites increased up to 70.9% and 67.9% at 4 wt.% of BaSO4, respectively. Tensile strength (77 MPa) and tensile modulus (2023.4 MPa) of these composites were also augmented up to 4 wt.% of BaSO4, after that concentration these properties were also observed to be decreased. Impact strength and hardness of these composites have also been improved significantly in the same trend as compared to the control sample. Thermal stability as a function of temperature was also enhanced by increasing the BaSO4 concentration up to 4 wt.% after which thermal stability decreased. Fractography of these composites was evaluated by optical microscopy. Hence, BaSO4 in optimum concentration was proved a striking filler for the improvement of mechanical and thermal properties of glass fiber‐reinforced polyester composites for high strength and high temperature applications.