Temperature Properties of Polyester Mortar Using Fly Ash Waste

Abstract

This paper reports on the effect of temperature on the relaxation behavior and the tensile properties (tensile modulus, tensile strength, and ultimate strain) of an unsaturated polyester resin using fly ash waste as a filler material. Fly ash was used as a filler in this study because it is a waste by-product generated from burning coal to produce energy. The disposal of fly ash can cause some environmental problems because the material may often be considered hazardous. Unsaturated polyester is an excellent medium in which to store fly ash because of its inherently very low permeability and excellent chemical resistance. The experimental results show that the use of fly ash waste as a filler significantly affects the temperature relaxation behavior of the polymer composite, as well as its tensile properties. The addition of fly ash from 0% by weight to 25% by weight results in an increase in the tensile modulus of the material by ∼80% and a decrease in its tensile strength and ultimate strain by ∼40 and ∼75%, respectively (these percentages are averages across various temperatures). These findings should be taken into account when formulating the material in civil engineering applications.