INVESTIGATION OF MECHANICAL PROPERTIES OF GFRP PIPE PRODUCTION WASTE FILLED PVC MATRIX COMPOSITES

In this study, waste powder output of wet cutting stage in GFRP pipe production was used instead of CaCO3 filler traditionally used in PVC pipe production. Waste includes silicon dioxide (SiO2), glass fibre and polyester resin. Slurry, output of the filtre press was dried, milled, sieved and powdered respectively. Waste powder and aid materials in the process were mixed by an extruder to produce samples. Waste powder was used as a filler material in the PVC by weight ratio of 5%-70%. CaCO3 filled and pure PVC samples were produced in the same conditions to make comparison. The properties of all the PVC matrix composite samples were investigated by density, hardness, tensile strength, bending strength and impact resistance tests. Also scanning electron microscope and optic images were obtained from the cracked surfaces. Higher hardness, flexure and tensile strength values were obtained by using GFRP waste powder filler instead of calcium carbonate filler traditionally used in PVC production. The experimental results showed that CaCO3 filled samples had better impact strength. Lower density composite material production was performed by GFRP waste powder filler