EFFECT OF SILICON CARBIDE AND CALCIUM SULPHATE ON E-GLASS/EPOXY COMPOSITES

Composites have the ability to meet diverse design requirement with significant strength to weight ratio as compared to conventional materials. Composites have a greater tensile strength, higher fatigue, endurance limit, lower embedded energy, good impact properties, environmental and corrosion resistance which can be tailored to meet performance needs and complex design requirements. The study of thermal, mechanical and fire resistance properties are desirable, when the Fiber Reinforced Composites are exposed to heat above the glass transition temperature of resin matrix, which leads to reduction in stiffness and strength of the material and hence degrades the mechanical properties due to thermal degradation and combustion of the resin. This poor fire resistance of glass fiber reinforced composites has been a major factor to limit their wide spread of applications.