Use of Different Graded Brass Debris in Epoxy-Resin Composites to
Improve Mechanical Properties

Authors: Younis Khalid Khdir¹ & Gailan Ismail Hassan^2
1&2Erbil Polytechnic University (EPU), Technical Engineering College, Erbil, Iraq
^1&2Ishik University, Faculty of Engineering, Erbil, Iraq

Abstract:  This study deals with the brass debris that is obtained from matte smelting and brass refining of different machining processes, such as grinding operation. The brass debris will be used as fillers in epoxy-resin composites. The common uses of the brass debris are recycling and production of valueadded waste products. In this study, random mixing processes were utilized to prepare(Epoxy / brass) composites by using the brass debris. Three grades of brass debris with different grain size (600, 800 and 1180) μm were used as reinforcement in epoxy resin with weight percentages (2%, 4%, 6% and 8%) respectively. Tensile and impact test were used to evaluate the mechanical specifications and conditions of the composites. The results of the study showed that it is very important to decrease the weight of brass debris added to epoxy resin, in case of coarse grain size. This is to insure appropriate conditions for tensile or impact tests on (Epoxy / Brass debris) composites. On the other hand, the study resulted that very low weight percentages, such as (2%, 4%, 6%, 8%) of metal brass debris, have no significant improvement in toughness, and can significantly reduce the impact absorbed energy (impact toughness) of the composite samples. The best value of the toughness can be obtained with the epoxy-BD600 and weight percent of 8%. This research also has examined the procedure and mechanical behaviour of brass debris grades filled epoxy-resin composites. The results concluded that it will be possible to utilize brass debris as a secondary filler element for composite materials preparation and brass debris production as added-value products.

Keywords: Waste Utilization, Debris, Composites, Epoxy Resin, Reinforcement

Download the PDF Document from here.

doi: 10.23918/eajse.v3i3p124

References
Biswas, S., & Satapathy, A. (2010). A comparative study on erosion characteristics of red mud filled
bamboo–epoxy and glass–epoxy composites. Materials & Design, 31, (4), 1752-1767.
Biswas, S., & Satapathy, A. (2010). Use of copper slag in glass-epoxy composites for improved wear
resistance. Waste Management & Research, 28, (7), 615-625.
Chang, L., Zhang, Y., Liu, Y., Fang, J., Luan, W., Yang, X., &W. Zhang, W. (2015). Preparation and
characterization of tungsten/epoxy composites for γ-rays radiation shielding. Nuclear
Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials
and Atoms, 356, 88-93.
Couillard, R., & Schwartz, P. (1997). Bending fatigue of carbon-fiber-reinforced epoxy composite
strands. Composites Science and Technology, 57, (2), 229-235.
Goud, G., & Rao, R. (2011). Effect of fibre content and alkali treatment on mechanical properties of
Roystonea regia-reinforced epoxy partially biodegradable composites. Bulletin of Materials
Science, 34, (7), 1575-1581.
He, X., Zhang, D., Li, H., Fang, J., & Shi, L. (2011). Shape and size effects of ceria nanoparticles on
the impact strength of ceria/epoxy resin composites. Particuology, 9, (1), 80-85.
Keong, G., Walad, M., Xiong, O., Haikel, M., Ling, C., Ravichadran, R., Kiang, L., & Hing, T.
(2017). A study on mechanical properties and leaching behaviour of municipal solid waste
(MSW) incineration Ash/Epoxy composites. Energy Procedia, 143, 448-453.
Kim, D., Chung, I., & Kim, G. (2013). Study on mechanical and thermal properties of fiberreinforced Epoxy/Hybrid-silica composite. Fibers and Polymers, 14, (12), 2141-2147.
Lee, S., Jeong, E., Lee, M., Lee, K., & Lee, Y. (2016). Improvement of the mechanical and thermal
properties of polyethersulfone-modified epoxy composites. Journal of Industrial and
Engineering Chemistry, 33, 73-79.
Li, S., & Cui, C. (2016). Enhancing the mechanical properties of epoxy resin by addition of an
amino-terminated hyperbranched polymer grown on glass fiber. Journal of Materials
Science, 51, (4), 1829-1837.
Liu, Y., Babu, J., Zhao, A., Goñi-Urtiaga, R., Sainz, R., Ferritto, M., & Pita, D. (2016). Effect of
Cu-doped graphene on the flammability and thermal properties of epoxy composites.
Composites Part B: Engineering, 89, 108-116.
Papargyris, D., Day, R., Nesbitt, A., & Bakavos, D. (2008). Comparison of the mechanical and
physical properties of a carbon fibre epoxy composite manufactured by resin transfer
moulding using conventional and microwave heating. Composites Science and Technology,
68, (7), 1854-1861.
Yang, K., Ritchie, R., Gu, Y., Wu, S., & Guan, J. (2016). High volume-fraction silk fabric
reinforcements can improve the key mechanical properties of epoxy resin composites.
Materials & Design, 108, 470-478.