Effect of Volume Fraction and Resin System on Tensile, Compression and Flexural Strength of Electrical Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic Laminate

This work deals with the experimental studies on effect of changing volume fraction and also various resin systems like Epoxy LY556, AW106 & CY230 on ultimate tensile, compression and flexural strength of a polymer matrix composite. The specimens were prepared through vacuum assisted resin transfer molding technique. The vacuum pump is a double stage rotary vacuum pump of specifications 300 lpm, 1 hp &3ph. Reinforcements of different thickness/layer of bidirectional e-glass fibers were used and the epoxy resins of varying viscosities were used. The machining of the fabricated specimens was carried out using abrasive water jet cutting facility. The test coupons were tested as per ASTM standards. Tensile, compression and flexural tests were carried out for each experiment and three trials were made for each experiment in order to arrive at the average value of tensile, compressive and flexural strength. The inferences are drawn for each type of resin system and volume fraction of the matrix and reinforcement used which helps in understanding the enhancement in ultimate strength of the test coupon under study.