Abstract:

In this research, some thermal and physical properties of unsaturated polyester (UP) nanocomposite produced using nanoparticles were investigated. Fumed Silica (FS), silicon carbide (SiC) and graphene nanoplate (GNP) were used as nanoparticles. The synthesized polyester nanocomposites were reinforced with 0.2%, 0.4%, 0.6%, 0.8% and 1.0% nanoparticles by mass. GNP and SiC nanoparticle reinforcements increased the thermal conductivity coefficient of the produced polyester nanocomposite by approximately 64% and 39%, respectively, while FS reinforcement decreased it by 12.5%. SiC nanoparticle increased the Shore D hardness of the polyester nanocomposite by 5.26% in the sample with 0.1% reinforcement. This ratio was 3.85% for 0.1% supplemented FS and 1.9% for 0.4% GNP. In addition, SiC and GNP reinforcement increased the density of the polyester nanocomposite, while FS reinforcement decreased the density of the composite. The thermal stability order of the samples was determined as FS, GNP and SiC reinforced nanocomposites. It was determined that the sample with the lowest thermal stability was UP. According to the results obtained in thermal stability experiments, mass losses of reinforced nanocomposites during thermal decomposition were compared. The thermal decomposition behavior of polyester nanocomposites was modeled by the kinetic equation. Experimental and theoretical model results were compared and correlation numbers were calculated by statistical analysis using nonlinear regression.