Synthesis and Characterization Unsaturated Polyester Resin Nanocomposites Reinforced by Fe۲O۳+ Ni Nanoparticles: Influence on Mechanical and Magnetic Properties

This investigation aims to study the effect of Fe۲O۳,Ni nanoparticles as a reinforcement materials on the mechanical properties of unsaturated polyester (UPR) as a matrix to produce a nanocomposite material using a casting route. Various examinations and tests were conducted to define the characteristics of the manufactured nanocomposite, such as Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), Energy Dispersive Spectrometry (EDS), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR) analysis. The mechanical tests, including tensile, bending and hardness were performed on samples at the room temperature according to ASTM standards, while the magnetic characteristics were defined by vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). Fe۲O۳ nanoparticles were incorporation into unsaturated polyester resin by different weight percentages that vary from ۰ wt.% to ۲۰ wt.% and a constant concentration ۳ wt.% of Ni nanoparticles. The images of FESEM and EDS evinced the homogeneity of F۲O۳, Ni nanoparticles into the pure unsaturated polyester resin (UPR). While, the improvement in Young's modulus, tensile strength, bending strength, and hardness was compared with those for the UPR. The improvement was ۱۰.۰۲% in Young’s modulus, ۴۴.۰۸% in tensile strength, ۱۳.۵۵% in bending strength, and strength in hardness. Also, the magnetic properties, such as reidual magnetization (Mr), saturation magnetization (Ms) and coercivity force (Hc) enhanced with increasing the concentration of nanoparticles. The preferred percentage to improve the mechanical properties was found at ۱۵ wt.% of Fe۲O۳ and then decreased above this concentration, whereas the enhancement in hardness was achieved at ۲۰ wt. % of Fe۲O۳.