Particulate composite materials with modulated mechanical properties

The possibility of preparing particulate composite materials with both integrated and modulated physical-mechanical properties is investigated, using as disperse phases waste particulate materials of different Young modulus, i.e. recycled grinded rubber coming from scrap tyres, by-products coming from raw materials treatment for ceramic industry, in order to join good mechanical properties to deformability and damping properties. The so called "normalized sand" was used for reference too. To this aim particulate composite materials bound by a polyester matrix have been prepared by a new laboratory moulding system and characterized. In particular, the possibility of modulating the mechanical properties of the composite materials not only through the components mix design, but also through the setting-up of the optimum particle size distribution and moulding conditions have been investigated. Experimental results are then reported and discussed, which show the actual possibility of preparing new particulate composite materials tailored according to contruction needs.