POTENTIAL FOR THE USE OF MARBLE AND GRANITE WASTE WITH SISAL FIBERS IN POLYMERIC MATRIX COMPOSITS

Abstract

The amount of waste generated due to the processing steps of ornamental rocks in the industrial sector, is intense. Soon, researchers are studying ways to recycle these mineral residues by incorporating them as fillers in composites. Therefore, polymeric composites were made with marble and granite residues in the mass proportions of 5 %, 10 %, 15 % and 20 % in the granulometry of 100 Mesh with sisal fibers in the length of 15 mm and in the mass proportion of 3 %, using the hand lay-up manufacturing method associated with closed mold pressing. The isophthalic polyester matrix was used in conjunction with the cobalt accelerator (1.5 % v / v) and the catalyst (1 % v / v). Mineralogical analysis was performed on the residue in order to identify the main mineral components, in addition to tests on the physical characterization composites using the apparent specific mass (ASTM D 792), water absorption (ASTM D 570) and apparent porosity (ASTM D 2734), as well as horizontal flammability (ASTM D 635) and tensile strength (ASTM D 3039) tests. The results of the physical properties showed an increase in relation to the full matrix. Regarding flame resistance, composites showed a reduction of approximately 16 % compared to full matrix and for tensile performance, the results showed an increase of approximately 33 % in the proportion of 5 % RMG / 3 % FS in reference to matrix full. Thus, the use of these materials proved to be efficient in the incorporation of the polymeric matrix.