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Thermal and Mechanical Performances of Unsaturated Polyester Composites Reinforced by Natural Fillers

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Abstract

In this study, two natural fillers, calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and gypsum (CaSO4.H2O), were added to unsaturated polyester resin (UP) to enhance its mechanical and thermal properties. Both fillers were homogeneously distributed throughout the polyester matrix. DRX analysis and FTIR spectra showed the presence of interactions between the resin and fillers. The increase of the amount of the fillers boosted the glass transition and the onset degradation temperatures of the UP by more than 17 °C. The bending strength and the flexural modulus of polyester increased with the addition of 20 wt% calcite and of 15 wt% gypsum by up to five times with the former and three times with the latter. The new composites showed a higher thermal stability, rigidity and improved flexural strength.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank ‘Mr. Rachid Saighi the technical manager of society “TRIMEX composite” of Tunisia for their great support.

Funding

The authors did not receive support from any organization for the submitted work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Composite Materials and Clay Minerals (LMCMA), CNRSM Technopole, Borj Cédria, Tunisia

    Sameh Attia-Essaies, Haifa Ayachi, Hamza Bouraoui & Ezzedine Srasra

  2. Laboratoire de Mécanique, Matériaux et Procédés, Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Ingénieurs de Tunis, Université de Tunis, 5, Avenue Taha Husseïn, Montfleury, Tunis, 1008, Tunisia

    Najoua Barhoumi

  3. Institut Préparatoire aux Etudes d’Ingénieurs d’El-Manar, Université d’El-Manar, B.P 244, CNRS, UMR 5223, Tunis, 2092, Tunisia

    Najoua Barhoumi

  4. Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte, University of Carthage, Carthage, Tunisia

    Haifa Ayachi

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  1. Sameh Attia-Essaies
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Attia-Essaies, S., Barhoumi, N., Ayachi, H. et al. Thermal and Mechanical Performances of Unsaturated Polyester Composites Reinforced by Natural Fillers. Chemistry Africa 7, 1523–1533 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42250-023-00839-5

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