Effects of Filler Content and Hygrothermal Ageing on Compressive Properties of Fly Ash-Epoxy Composites

Compressive properties of fly ash-epoxy composites with and without exposure to warm water were studied. Ash by itself being susceptible to absorption of water the amount of fly ash was found to influence the water absorption. Composites tested under compression after two durations of exposure showed improvement in properties. Properties after longer exposure were, however, not much different from those recorded for shorter exposed test samples. The microscopic examination revealed less of debonds at the ash-epoxy interface consequent to water ingress. This is interpreted in this work to mean that ash particles absorbing water and attendant swelling could have aided in this situation which factor could also be augmented by the epoxy showing signs of volumetric expansion following ingress of water. These situations could have helped in reduction of the severity of these debonds acting as stress raisers thereby improving the compressive properties of water ingressed composites.