Modelling of tensile properties glass powder/epoxy composites post-cured in an oven and in microwaves

This paper discusses a simplified approach to analyse the mechanical properties of randomly distributed particulate composites. Mechanical properties of glass powder filled vinyl ester resins were experimentally investigated. The analytical results were compared with experimental results and a very good correlation was found. Further, the experimental results and the predictions showed that the strength of the composites is less than the strength of the matrix material, for all three composites tested.