Study on mechanical properties and water uptake of polyester-nanoclay nanocomposite and analysis of wear property using RSM

The study aims to fabricate and characterize polyester-nanoclay nanocomposites using different weight percentages of nanoclay. Nanoclay is mixed into polyester resin using a mechanical stirrer and a sonicator. The mixture is molded into specimens that meet ASTM standards. The nanoclay addition improved mechanical properties, thus lowering the water uptake of polyester-nanoclay nanocomposites. The causes of specimen failure are discovered using scanning electron microscopy images. A wear test on a pin-on-disc apparatus involves 4 factors, viz., nanoclay wt.%, speed, load, and time at 3 levels. Response surface methodology (RSM)'s “central composite face-centered design” is used to investigate individual factor's influence on the wear property of a polyester-nanoclay nanocomposite. The addition of nanoclay increased the wear resistance of polyester, according to the results.