International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering

Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal, Volume 3, Issue 2, February 2013)

Effect of Graphite Filler on Mechanical Behavior of Epoxy

Composites
Subita Bhagat, Pardeep Kumar Verma
1

Department of Chemical Technology, Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering & Technology-India

Reliance Industries Limited, Dahej Manufacturing Division, Taluka: Vagra, Bharuch, Gujarat- India
Abstract- Graphite reinforced epoxy composites with
different particulate fractions of graphite were investigated
for mechanical properties such as tensile, impact and
flexural. The graphite content was varied from 2% to 8%
by weight of total matrix in the composites. The results
showed that the mechanical properties of the composites
mainly depend on dispersion condition of the filler particles,
particle size and aggregate structure. The composites
showed improved tensile modulus, flexural modulus and
impact strength in bending properties with increase filler
content as the functional group tends to decrease in
composites with increasing filler content as gelation occurs
vigorously in the composite.

Panel stiffness is also dependent on the

design of the panel. For instance, the fibre
reinforcement and matrix used the method of
panel build, thermo set versus thermoplastic,
type of weave, and orientation of fibre axis to
the primary force.
Graphite is pure carbon in a crystal form
much like that of micasheets of strongly linked
atoms, with very weak bonds between the
sheets. This structure makes graphite an
excellent dry lubricant wherever temperatures
do not get too high.
Graphite fibres reinforced composites have
exceptional mechanical properties which are
unequalled by other materials. The material is
strong, stiff, and lightweight. Polymeric
graphite fibres composite is the material of
choice for applications where lightweight &
superior performance is paramount, such as
components for spacecrafts, fighter aircrafts,
and race cars. This study investigated the effect
of filler on mechanical behaviour of epoxy
composites.
II. E XPERIMENTAL
A. Materials Used
For the present study, a commercial
available epoxy resin procured from Ciba
Geigy India Ltd was used as the polymer
matrix. Aliphatic amine (HY-951) was used as
the hardener for epoxy resin. The graphite
powder with a particle size (<50 micron meter)
minimum 99.5% was obtained from S.D. FineChemical Ltd. Mumbai- 400025.

Keywords: Epoxy resin, Flexural modulus, Graphite

particles, Impact strength, Tensile modulus etc.

I. INTRODUCTION
Modern structural composites, mostly
referred to as Advanced Composites, are a
blend of two or more components, one of which
is made up of stiff, long fibers, and the other, a
binder or matrix or resin which holds the
fibers in place. The matrix material can be
polymeric (e.g. polyester resins, epoxies),
metallic or ceramic. When the fiber and the
matrix are combined to form a composite, they
retain their individual identities and structure
influences the final composite properties. The
resulting composite will usually be composed
of layers of the fibers and matrix stacked to
achieve the desired properties in one or more
directions.
The physical properties of composite
materials are generally independent of direction
of applied force in nature, but rather are
typically different depending on the direction of
the applied force or load. For instance, the
stiffness of a composite panel will often depend
upon the orientation of the applied forces and/or
moments.
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International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering

Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal, Volume 3, Issue 2, February 2013)

B. Preparation of Composite Sheets

A weighted amount of epoxy resin and
graphite powder were mixed in varying
proportions and then the hardener, aliphatic
amine (HY-951) 1% was added o initiate the
reaction. The mixture was then poured into the
mould and then inserted in compression
molding machine. Different sheets of epoxy
resin reinforced with varying amounts of
graphite filler i.e. 2%, 4%, 6%, 8% (by weight
of resin) were prepared and tested. Filler
amount was limited to 8% in composite
sheet because as the filler concentration
increased to 8%, the gelation occurred rapidly
and mixture became thick and losing fluidity.

Sample for Flexural Testing.

The test sample of specified size 80 mm x
10 mm x 2mm were cut with the help of motor
driven blade in machine shop according to
ASTM D790.
IV. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
The mechanical properties of composite
made of high modulus filler and relatively low
modulus polymeric matrix are sensitive to
loading rate and temperature. Tensile
elongation and tensile modulus measurements
are among the most important indications of
strength in a material and are the most widely
specified properties of plastic materials. Tensile
properties are temperature sensitive. The
structure and properties of the filler matrix
interface play a major role in the mechanical
and physical properties of composite materials.
It was observed from figure 1 that the tensile
modulus increases as the filler concentration
increases because of absence of voids in the
composite, good mixing of the filler in the
matrix and most important is two dimensional
structures of graphite particles. The study
revealed that as the tensile modulus increases,
the ultimate stress and % elongation decreases.
Figure 2 indicated the effect of graphite
filler on elongation at break or break
displacement of epoxy graphite composite. It
was observed that the elongation at break
decreases slowly as filler concentration
increases due stiffness increases with filler
content. These results proved that graphite
flakes have the synergistic effect on improving
mechanical properties of epoxy resin.

III. CHARACTERIZATION OF COMPOSITE

SHEETS
The composite samples were tested for their
mechanical strength as:
Sample for Izod Impact Testing.
The specimen used in Izod test must be
notched according to the ASTM D-256, ISO
179.The reason for notching the specimen is to
provide a stress concentration area that
promotes a brittle rather than a ductile failure.
Sample for Tensile Testing.
The samples for tensile testing were
prepared according to the ASTM D-638. These
samples were cut into a dumb-bell shape with
the help of die, operated by hand press.

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International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering

Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal, Volume 3, Issue 2, February 2013)

The study reveals that the flexural strength

increases from 200 MPa to 285 MPa with the
increases of graphite content as shown in figure
3 due to interfacial bonding and additional loadbearing capacity of the matrix, which can be
due to good filler matrix adhesion.

Fig.1. Variation of tensile modulus

with varying amount of graphite filler of epoxy
graphite composite.

Fig.3. Variation of flexural strength with varying

amount of graphite filler of epoxy graphite composite.

It was observed from figure 4 that impact

strength and toughness decreases with an
increase in filler content. The decrease in
impact strength is due to decreased availability
of epoxy material to bond all the graphite
particles in the matrix. It is examined that the
impact property of polymeric material are
directly related to the over toughness of the
material. The impact energy is a measure of
toughness .The higher the impact energy of
material, the higher the toughness of material
vice versa. The study revealed that this type of
behavior is common for polymers filled with
particulate system.

Fig.2. Variation of break displacement

with varying amount of graphite filler of epoxy
graphite composite.

The flexural properties of composites

depend critically on the microstructure of the
composite and the interfacial bonding between
the filler and matrix. In this study flexural
strength of the graphite filled polymer
composite was measured with respect to filler
content.
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International Journal of Emerging Technology and Advanced Engineering

Website: www.ijetae.com (ISSN 2250-2459, ISO 9001:2008 Certified Journal, Volume 3, Issue 2, February 2013)
[10] Manson A., Sperling L.H. 1976.Polymer Blends and
Composites.

The results showed that the particulate filler

initiates a crack formation via stress
concentration on the filler surface and slight
decrease in energy due to decreased availability
of epoxy material to bond all the graphite
particles in the matrix.

Fig.4. Variation of impact strength with varying

amount of graphite filler of epoxy graphite composite
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