TENSILE STRENGTH OF POLYESTER MATRIX COMPOSITES WITH INCORPORATION OF KAOLIN WASTE FROM THE AMAZON REGION (Atena Editora)

Abstract

In recent years, growing interest in sustainable materials reflects the quest to reduce environmental impact. The strategy of reducing the proportion of polyester resin in composites stands out for its potential in saving resources and reducing carbon emissions, especially when using waste that would previously have been discarded. In this context, this study aims to evaluate how the incorporation of kaolin waste influences the tensile strength of polyester matrix composites. Five formulations were prepared, ranging from 0 to 40 wt.% kaolin waste, with a particle size of 50-100 mesh. The density of the kaolin waste and the composites were calculated. The composites were manufactured by the compression molding method, using a stainless-steel mold with dimensions of 300 x 160 x 2.5 mm. Through tensile tests, it was possible to identify that kaolin waste composites exhibit higher tensile strength, exceeding by 24.19%, 30.94%, 47.38% and 16.10% the tensile strength of the neat polyester for addition of kaolin waste 10, 20, 30 and 40 wt.%, respectively. The mechanical properties obtained were treated by analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey test. Furthermore, a fractographic analysis was carried out using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to analyze in detail the fracture surfaces of the tested samples and understand the failure mechanisms of each composite material.