Compression Strength of Saline Water Exposed Epoxy System Containing Red Mud Particles

Abstract

Polymers materials by themselves have found extensive use in non critical products. Such products are used in advanced engineering applications when reinforced with stronger materials. Among the reinforcements, the fibrous variety, whether continuous or discontinuous, occupies a key position. Hence, many inorganic fiber reinforced polymer system have made their entry at various application levels. Because of their large aspect ratio, they yield components, which have anisotropy when the reinforcements are aligned.

In order to secure isentropic properties in composites, reinforcements with near spherical shapes have been tried e.g., glass micro spheres are known as micro balloons. Such man made reinforcements, through yield attractive mechanical properties, are expensive. Hence, a search for cheaper reinforcements is a key subject that needs the attention of material scientists. One such inexpensive filler to fit the slot is red mud. Being a by product of alumina plants, its disposal causes considerable environmental problems. Hence, there is need to tap this inexpensive material for possible use with other system including the polymer based ones. The present study looks at how this pozzolanic red mud, when introduced into a thermoset, responds the exposure to an aqueous medium like laboratory prepared saline water. The results show that when the red mud content in the system is large, the absorption levels are high. The results further revealed that the unexposed samples generally record an increasing strength value with red mud content.