Polymer Engineering and Science, Vol.48, No.1, 124-132, 2008
Evaluation of mechanical properties of epoxy-guar gum composites
Guar gum (GG) and hydroxypropyl guar gum (HPG) are widely used in a variety of applications ranging from foods, pharmaceutics to mining and explosives. However, there have been very few studies conducted investigating the use of these materials as fillers in polymer composites. GG and HPG were incorporated in an epoxy matrix and the mechanical properties of the resultant composites were determined. The tensile strength, flexural strength, and impact strength of the composites indicate that they provide reinforcement to the composites upto 5-7.5 phr after which there is a rapid decrease in the respective properties. HPG with higher propoxy content was found to provide greater reinforcement due to its increased hydrophobic nature leading to greater polymer-filler interaction. The nature of the filler required that the water absorption and related tests be carried out. The composites showed increased water absorption and also weight loss on exposure to acid and alkali environments, with HPGs showing greater variations when compared with GG, making the composites susceptible to moisture. The study shows that these fillers make an inexpensive, eco-friendly, and renewable addition to conventional organic and inorganic fillers where the composites do not come into immediate contact with water.