Studies in effect of low concentration of cenosphere on mechanical, thermal, electrical, crystallinity, colorimetric and morphological properties of epoxy cured with triethylenetetramine

Abstract

Cenospheres are produced in very large amount in thermal power plants. They are always looked upon as fillers used to reduce the density and cost of the polymer. If cenosphere particles are allowed to remain properly dispersed by taking it in lower concentration, significant improvement in its mechanical, thermal, electrical, crystallinity, colorimetric and morphological properties are expected. To make it happen, epoxy/cenosphere composites were prepared, having lower concentration of cenosphere. Concentration of cenosphere in epoxy, cured with triethylenetetramine, was changed as 0, 3, 5, 7 and 10. Tensile Strength, Tensile Modulus, Percentage Elongation at Break and Crystallinity decreased, whereas, Flexural Strength and Flexural Modulus were found to have increased by 50% and above 100% respectively at 7 phr loading of cenosphere in epoxy. Thermal and electrical stability also increased with increase in concentration of ceno-sphere in the epoxy, however, the samples became blackish with increased addition of cenosphere. Using SEM analysis it was found that, cenospheres were properly and uniformly dispersed at 7 phr concentration and formed aggregates at 10 phr concentration.