Estudio de la morfología del refuerzo en materiales compuestos de polímero. Aplicación al poliéster insaturado modificado de impacto con partículas de un copolímero de butadieno-acrilonitrilo

This work refers to the morphological characterization of reinforcing elastomer particles of a butadiene-acrilonitrile copolymer (VTBN), once they have been dispersed in different proportions (2.4 to 23.1% in weight) in unsaturated polyester matrices (UP). The interest of the study is based on the fact that the main mechanical characteristics of the compound VTBN/UP depend on the size, density and morphology of the reinforcing particles. The experimental technique consisted of processing different optical microphotographs by usin an image analyzer, and this has enabled to make a series of statistical calculations in order to characterize the reinforcing particles morphology. These values have been compared with the values obtained through quantitative metallography. it has been sohwn the dependence betweden particle size and the proportion reinforcing elastomer/matrix. the content has also Influenced the percent of area occupied by the elastomer particles. It has been also estimated that maximum reinforcing proportion was 16.7% in weight, because for upper values there was a phase inversion.