Effect of calcined water treatment sludge incorporation on thermal characteristics of MMA-based composites

초록

Methyl methacrylate-based composites offer significant advantages in surface coating applications due to their rapid curing, and chemical resistance. However, their dimensional instability under temperature fluctuations can lead to thermal shock and surface delamination, particularly in outdoor environments. In this study, calcined water treatment sludge, a porous ceramic-like byproduct, was introduced as a functional filler to mitigate thermal expansion and improve thermal response characteristics of Methyl methacrylate-based composites. The bulk density, thermal conductivity, thermal expansion, surface temperature evolution, and microstructural homogeneity of the composites with the water treatment sludge were investigated in the present study. The composites with 3.0 wt% of the sludge in the present study showed optimal thermal performance, with the coefficient of thermal expansion reduced by 18.8%, and the thermal response (t₉₀) improved. In contrast, excessive loading (5.0 wt%) resulted in agglomeration of the sludge particles, leading to inconsistent thermal performance. These findings suggest that WTS can effectively enhance the thermal stability of MMA-based coatings within a specific loading range.

키워드