Utilization of granite powder as filler for vinyl ester resin

Granite powder is an inexpensive material that can reduce the overall cost of composites if used as filler in vinyl ester matrices. The granite powder was incorporated in vinyl ester matrix in 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 wt%. Casting technique was used to make composites of vinyl ester and granite powder. Mechanical (tensile, flexural, impact and hardness), water absorption, chemical resistance and thermal (thermal degradation and dynamic mechanical analysis) properties of pure vinyl ester and granite powder filled vinyl ester composites were carried out. The composites show higher tensile, flexural and impact strength than the pristine vinyl ester resin. The highest enhancement of mechanical properties was observed in 20 wt% of granite powder filled composites. The thermogravimetric studies revealed that the composites were having higher thermal stability than the pure vinyl ester resin. As the concentration of the granite powder in vinyl ester resin increased, the char yield was also increased. Dynamic Mechanical Analysis (DMA) showed the storage modulus and glass transition temperature of composites were increased up to 20 wt% loading of granite powder in vinyl ester