1. Mechanical, Thermal and Wear Characteristics of Polymer Composite Material Reinforced with Calcium Carbonate Powder Asst. Prof. Dr. Aseel Al-Zubaidi Department of Materials Engineering University of Technology Baghdad - IRAQ

2. Introduction Polymer composites are materials used in diverse engineering applications Epoxy-based polymers are of much extensive use as coatings, adhesives, insulating parts etc.

3. QUICK MAST 105 is an epoxy resin for multipurpose uses like fabric reinforcement, bonding of wooden parts and variety of metals in addition of being used as adhesive for wide range of applications.

4. Properties of QUICK MAST 105 Have a high flash point. No strong odor making it safer than polyesters. Can be sanded and shaped after being cured and hardened.

5. Aim of the present work Enhance the mechanical, the wear and the thermal properties of the quick mast 105 epoxy resins by adding CaCO 3 powder at an optimum ratio. Analysis of mechanical and thermal properties of the reinforced samples.

6. CaCO 3 sub-micro particles The weight ratios of the CaCO 3 were 0.0% (Pure sample), 2%, 5%, 10% and 15% with respect to the epoxy.

7. Techniques Mechanical Properties - Flexural properties - Hardness of shore Durometer - Impact - Wear Thermal Properties - Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) - Thermal conductivity

8. Flexural Modulus SPECIMEN

9. Hardness SPECIMEN

10. The CaCO 3 nanoparticles are working as tension-tolerating centers in the epoxy matrix leading to the exhibited mechanical changes. Hardness Flexural modulus

11. Impact strength SPECIMEN

12. Fracture toughness

13. Fracture toughness as superposition of two effects FlexuralImpact

14. Wear SPECIMEN

15. Findings Wear rate increases with the increase of load. Wear rate increases with the increase of CaCO 3 ratio. Increase of hardness with wear indicates that the wear is non-adhesive in nature.

16. TG Analyzer Sample loading At Universiti Teknologi MARA - Malaysia

17. TGA

18. From comparison of the TG curves: Addition of CaCO­ 3 particles to the epoxy resin didnot involve a chemical reaction between the epoxy and the powder. The mechanical properties of the composite material can be explained on the basis of the tensile properties, the packing characteristics and the interficial bonding characteristics in the epoxy matrix.

19. Lee’s Disc for thermal conductivity measurement SPECIMEN

20. Findings and Conclusions Enhancement of mechanical, wear and thermal characteristics of Quick mast 105 epoxy resin using a cheap filler of CaCO 3 powder has been achieved successfully. Results showed that addition of low quantities of CaCO 3 powder to the epoxy resin produces a harder, less ductile and better heat insulator product. Wear characteristics showed that addition of the CaCO 3 powder produced an epoxy-based composite suitable for high-speed applications.

21. Contributing Authors Asst. Prof. Dr. Aseel Basim Dr. Ahmed A. Al-Tabbakh Lect. (Ms.) Hanaa Al-Qaessy Eng. (Ms.) Ragad Al-Kaseey

22. THANK YOU