Deformation and fracture behavior of vinylester/fly ash composites

Abstract

In this work, the deformation and fracture behavior of a commercial vinylester resin reinforced with fly ash was investigated. Tensile, compressive and fracture tests were performed on the matrix and the composites with different ash content. Most composites exhibited improved stiffness, tensile strength and fracture properties in comparison to the vinylester matrix. From SEM analysis of fracture surfaces, the toughening mechanisms of crack pinning, crack deflection, particle debonding and localized shear yielding were identified. In addition, the dependence of tensile and compressive modulus and fracture energy towards ash content was adequately fitted by simple models available in the literature. From the results of these models and EDS analysis, some interaction between vinylester and ash seemed to exist.