Mechanical Properties of Polymers Filled with Iron Powder

Mechanical properties of metal-polymer matrix composites were investigated experimentally. High density polyethylene (HDPE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS) were used as the polymer matrix and Fe powder in 5, 10, and 15 vol% was used as the metal. The modulus of elasticity, yield and tensile strength, % elongation, Izod notched impact strength, Shore D hardness, and fracture surfaces of the composites were determined. It was found that vol% Fe reduced the Izod impact strength of HDPE much more than that of PP and PS, while Fe powder increased the hardness of HDPE more than that of PP and PS. Among the composites, PS-Fe composites had higher yield, tensile strength and modulus of elasticity than HDPE-Fe and PP-Fe composites. However, % elongation of PS-Fe composites was lower than that of the other composites. In addition, HDPE- and PP-based composites exhibited ductile type fracture, while PS-Fe composites exhibited brittle type fracture.