Preparation and investigation of some mechanical properties of unsaturated polyester resin reinforced by hybrid nanoparticles

In this study, nano-composite of polymeric materials, prepared from unsaturated polyester resin (UP). Two groups of nanocomposites were prepared by Hand Lay-up method. The first group consists from (UP) reinforced by hybrid nanoparticles consisting of a mixture of zirconium oxide and yttrium oxide (30 mol%Y2O3- ZrO2) with particles size (83.98nm). The second group consists of (UP) reinforced by zirconia nanoparticles (ZrO2) with particle size (47.23nm). The effect of volume fraction (0.5%, 1%, 1.5%, 2%, 2.5%, 3%) of the nanoparticles additives on some mechanical properties of composites materials was studied also. The results shown that the values of the flexural modulus, impact strength and fracture toughness increased, as the volume fraction ratio of the nanoparticle increased for both groups of nanocomposites, while flexural strength values decreased with the increased the volume fraction ratio of the nanoparticles for both groups of nanocomposites also. As well as, the unsaturated polyester resins reinforced by hybrid nanoparticles has higher mechanical properties as compared with their counterparts of composites reinforced by zirconia nanoparticles only. The morphological formation of the fracture surface showed a close interconnection between all components of the prepared polymeric compositions. This reinforce a good compatibility between unsaturated polyester resins and reinforcement nanoparticles, which enhancement the mechanical properties