Effect of Clay Dispersion on Mechanical, Thermal and Vibration Properties of Glass Fiber-Reinforced Vinyl Ester Composites

Glass fiber reinforced vinyl ester polymer composites filled with clay particles were synthesized by a hand lay-up technique with the addition of methy ethyl ketone peroxide (MEKP), cobalt napthalate and benzoyl peroxide. Mechanical and thermal properties of vinyl ester-glass fiber composite and clay particles dispersed vinyl-glass fiber hybrids were investigated in the present work. The hybridization effect of nanoclay dispersion in vinyl ester-fiber composite was discussed. Enhanced mechanical, thermal and vibration properties were observed in nanoclay dispersed composites over vinyl ester-glass fiber composite.