Title : Investigation of effect of nano kaolinite as a filler in the coarse wool - vinyl ester composite
Abstract:
In the reported work, wool fabric was coated with vinyl ester resin and subsequently composites were developed. To increase the mechanical properties of the composite, nano kaolinite was used as a filler. The effect of nano kaolinite in the physico- mechanical properties, surface morphology, moisture content, water contact angle, water diffusion and aging characteristics of the wool-vinyl ester resin composite was analyzed using various analytical methods. The inclusion of nano kaolinite significantly improved the tensile and impact strength of wool-vinyl ester resin composite. The SEM images depict a good adhesion between the wool fibre and the vinyl ester resin. The presence of nano kaolinite in the composite caused marginal reduction in the water contact angle and increase in the water diffusion properties. The FTIR spectra showed absence of chemical interaction between the nano kaolinite, wool fibre and vinyl ester resin. The thermal and UV aging properties of the wool- vinyl ester composites were improved with the addition of nano kaolinite, however the developed composites showed poor biodegradation.