Response surface methodology-based experimental and statistical analysis of polyester resin composites reinforced with silicon carbide and alumina powders

In this study, polyester resin composites were reinforced with varying ratios of Aluminum Oxide (Al2O3) and Silicon Carbide (SiC) powders, and their mechanical properties were systematically investigated. The composite samples were subjected to compressive strength tests and Specific Energy Absorption (SEA) evaluations. The Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was employed to perform a statistical analysis of the experimental results, allowing for the determination of significant factors and their interactions. The compressive strength of the composites was found to be significantly influenced by the content of Al2O3 with the highest compressive strength observed at a composition of 95% resin, 1.66% SiC, and 3.33% Al2O3, yielding a maximum stress of 8895.48 MPa. Similarly, the SEA results demonstrated that the addition of 3.33% Al2O3 and 6.66% SiC led to a remarkable improvement in energy absorption capabilities, achieving an SEA value of 73.20 J/kg. The statistical analysis confirmed the significance of both the individual and interaction effects of the filler materials, with p-values indicating high significance (p < 0.05). The developed models exhibited high accuracy with R-2 values of 0.9245 for compressive strength and 0.9492 for SEA, suggesting the reliability of the experimental data. These findings underline the potential of using ceramic powders like Al2O3 and SiC in enhancing the mechanical performance of polyester resin composites, making them suitable for high-performance applications.