Study of Unsaturated Polyester Primer Reinforced by Microcrystalline Cellulose on Mechanical, Adhesion and Corrosion Properties

Abstract

Addition of Microcrystalline Cellulose (MCC) as filler in to Unsaturated Polyester (UPR) polymer can enhanced the properties of the composite. UPR and MCC was prepared using sonication mixing technique at various loading of (2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 wt %) of MCC at a constant of 60 minutes of sonication. UPR and MCC was mixed in a vial bottle and then immersed in sonication bath for the sonication process. Once the sonication completed, the mixture was added with Methyl Ethylene Ketone Peroxide (MEKP) as curing agent, coated on steel plate and was left for curing process of 7 days. The coating was studied for adhesion, mechanical and corrosive properties using pencil hardness, adhesion tape and immersion tests. 4 wt% of loading showed improvement in mechanical properties where form H grade to 4H grade. It is also recorded there are improvement of adhesion test from 1B grade 35-65% pulled out to 4B grade which is less than 5 % pulled. From the immersion test, it shown that 4 wt % of loading has a good corrosion resistant as compared to the control sample. Thus, it was concluded that 4 wt % of loading filler is suitable to be used because it promotes a better mechanical and adhesion properties and also good corrosion resistant compared to other loading percentage.