Study the mechanical characteristics of polymer matrix reinforced with metallic waste.

This study involves the preparation of polymer matrix composite by the hand lay-up process, using unsaturated polyester resin (UPR) as a matrix and waste aluminum flakes as reinforcement material in different weight fractions (0, 10, 30, 40 and 50%) wt. of aluminum. All samples were subjected to bending, tensile, hardness tests and the scanning electron microscope (SEM) of fractured samples surface was also conducted. It was found that 10% wt. is the best reinforcement ratio in tensile, hardness and Young's modulus tests, and (SEM) shows there is a good distribution at 10 % of Al flakes inside the matrix, and the polyester covers the fillers completely which denotes a good interstitial adhesion between them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]