ZrO2 Influence on Mechanical Properties of GFRP Composite - Deakin

This report details a research project conducted at Deakin University investigating the effect of varying percentages of Zirconium Dioxide (ZrO2) on the mechanical properties of Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) composite. The project involved preparing GFRP composite specimens with 0%, 1%, 2%, and 3% ZrO2 by weight and conducting tensile and flexural tests to determine the resulting tensile and flexural strength. The results, analyzed using graphs in Excel, revealed that the addition of 3% ZrO2 improved tensile properties, while the addition of any ZrO2 reduced flexural strength. The findings suggest that manipulating the percentage of ZrO2 can tailor the mechanical properties of GFRP composites for specific engineering applications. The student highlights the development of research skills and improved understanding of composite material properties.

Student’s Name 1
CAREER EPISODE 2
[CE 2.1] INTRODUCTION
Project Title Investigating Effect of ZrO2 on Mechanical Properties of GFRP
Composite
Project Type Research Methodology Project
Semester Fifth year
Degree Masters of Engineering
Specialization Mechanical Engineering
University Deakin University
Company
Project Location 75 Pigdons Rd, Deakin University, Waurn Ponds, VIC, 3216
Project Start Date January 2016
Project
Completion
April 2016
Project Duration Three months
[CE 2.2] PROJECT BACKGROUND
[CE 2.2.1] Project Overview:
This career episode presents information about a project I accomplished in the course of my fifth
year at Deakin University. Research methodology is one of the mandatory units of the
mechanical engineering course I was undertaking and it requires students to conduct a research
project and write its portfolio. The main objective of this unit is to equip students with the
knowledge and skills needed to conduct a research successfully. I decided to work on the
mechanical properties of glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) composite after getting
interested on how composite materials can help to create materials with superior mechanical
properties at reasonable costs and minimal environmental impacts. My project was mainly about
examining the effect of addition of different percentages of ZrO2 on the mechanical properties of

Student’s Name 2
GFRP composite. I had to conduct a lot of research about mechanical properties (tensile strength
and flexural strength) of GFRP composite.
[2.2.2] Objective of the Project:
Each composite material has unique mechanical and physical properties that make it exhibit
different behaviours when subjected to varied loadings. These properties help to choose
materials that are most suitable for the intended use. I gathered a lot of background information
about different aspects of composite materials, ZrO2 and GFRP composite. I chose GFRP
composite material because of its excellent properties, numerous applications, versatility and
cost effectiveness. I added different weight fractions of ZrO2 (0%, 1%, 2% and 3%) and
conducted tensile and flexural tests so as to determine the effect of ZrO2 on the tensile strength
and flexural strength of GFRP composite. The tensile and flexural strength values have been
analyzed using graphs drawn in Excel.
[2.2.3] Team Organization:
This project was carried out by me. However, I worked in collaboration with my project
supervisor, unit coordinator, faculty members of Deakin University’s mechanical engineering
department and staff at the university’s mechanical engineering laboratories. These individuals
helped me with advice and guidance that was useful to complete the project. I consulted and met
my supervisor weekly and in each meeting, I submitted a progress report.
[CE 2.2.4] Distribution of the tasks:
Since this project was a prerequisite of the research methodology unit, I have been required to
complete it within the 12 weeks of the semester. Successful completion of the project included
performing all the specified tests, analyzing the results and submitting a project portfolio. To

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help me complete the project more easily and within the given time, I divided the project into
four main parts: introduction, literature review, experimentation, and experimental results. I
started with introduction, which I did it in two weeks, followed by literature review that took
another two weeks. Experimentation took six weeks during which I gathered the required
materials, prepared test specimens, performed the tests and recorded relevant data. I completed
the project within the remaining two weeks with analysis of experimental results to determine the
effect of addition of ZrO2 on mechanical properties of GFRP composite.
[CE 2.3] ENGINEERING WORK CONDUCTED
I started by examining properties and applications of different composite materials. I decided to
investigate GFRP composite and ZrO2 because of their superior properties and a variety of
applications in different sectors. Increasing costs and environmental impacts of conventional
materials have made it necessary to develop new materials with superior properties by
combining separate materials with less superior properties. The separate materials work together
in the composite, giving it unique and desired properties. It is captivating to learn that some of
the locally available materials can be combined to form composites with superior properties.
Every material behaves differently when subjected to loadings because of its unique properties.
Therefore it has been important for me to experimentally analyze composite materials by
conducting tensile and flexural tests so as to ensure that the materials have the desired properties
for the intended use. Most importantly is to determine the effect of ZrO2 on the mechanical
properties of GFRP composite.
[CE 2.3.1]

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In this project, I have investigated and analyzed the effect ZrO2 on the tensile strength and
flexural strength of GFRP composite. I have done this by preparing GFRP specimens with 0%,
1%, 2% and 3% by weight of ZrO2 and performing tensile test and flexural test to obtain tensile
strength and flexural strength values of the composite material. Since the addition of different
percentages of ZrO2 has an influence on the properties of the composite material, I analyzed the
results in Excel to determine this effect. This analysis helps to determine the most suitable
percentage of ZrO2 that should be added to GFRP composite so as to achieve the desired
mechanical properties for the intended use.
[CE 2.3.2]
I have analyzed tensile strength and flexural strength of GFRP composite by considering the
effect of addition of ZrO2. After collecting relevant data, I have done analysis by comparing
tensile strength and flexural strength of GFRP composite with the addition of 0%, 1%, 2% and
3% by weight of ZrO2.
[CE 2.3.3]
From the results obtained, two graphs were drawn in Excel: one for tensile test and another for
flexural test. Figure 1 below shows a graph of load vs. strain for GFRP composite from the
tensile test results while Figure 2 below shows a graph of graph of stress vs. elongation for
GFRP composite from the flexural test results.

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Figure 1: Graph of load vs. strain for GFRP composite
Figure 2: Graph of stress vs. elongation for GFRP composite
The results obtained have revealed that the percentage of ZrO2 added to GFRP composite affects
the mechanical properties of the GFRP composite. Addition of 3% of ZrO2 produces GFRP
composites with better tensile properties than addition of 0%, 1% and 2%. Therefore an increase
in the percentage of ZrO2 added to GFRP composite improves the tensile properties of the GFRP

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composite. Also, addition of 0% of ZrO2 produces GFRP composites with better flexural
properties than addition of 1%, 2% and 3%. Thus an increase in the percentage of ZrO2 added to
GFRP composite reduces the flexural strength of the GFRP composite. The results I obtained
from this project have already been checked by my supervisor who has approved them and made
a recommendation that they are perfect and reliable.
[CE 2.4] SUMMARY
This research project has been remarkably captivating and it has given me a good time to
manifest my research skills and capabilities. It has also allowed me to demonstrate my
engineering knowledge in relation to composite materials. I have followed the standard
procedures of selecting, preparing and testing GFRP composites with a twist of adding different
percentages of ZrO2. This project has significantly increased my knowledge of GFRP composites
and how their properties can be manipulated by addition of different percentages of other
suitable materials so as to achieve the desired properties. Therefore I have not only improved my
research skills from this project but also demonstrated my vast knowledge on how desired
properties of GFRP can be engineered through addition of ZrO2. I believe that findings from this
project can be used to improve mechanical properties of different composites in various fields of
engineering across the world.