Volume 4, No. 4, 2010
Received: 2010/09/01, Accepted:
Authors:
Issam S. Jalham; Abbas Al-Refaie;
Abstract:
In this investigation, a combined experimental approach of micro-structural observation and compressive load
capacity testing were followed to determine the behavior of bakelite matrix material reinforced with
Jordanian silica sand. It was found that the reinforced samples gave a higher maximum load capacity than the
pure matrix, because the homogeneous structure helped in distributing the applied load between the matrix
and the reinforcement. Moreover, the higher the volume fraction of the reinforcement, the higher the
maximum load capacity of the composite. The maximum load capacity of the samples with 75% content of
Jordanian silica sand was less than that of pure bakelite. On the other hand, the higher the particle size of the
reinforcement, the higher the maximum load capacity of the composite. Composites of bakelite matrix gave a
higher maximum load capacity than that of polystyrene matrix. In addition, a longitudinal brittle fracture was
observed for the composites.
Keywords:
Silica sand, Load capacity, Composite, Reinforcement, Matrix.