Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T14:58:14Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 JoaoPMS_DISSERT.pdf: 2368005 bytes, checksum: d7875a294c5267dc99db89f3b20a7106 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-03-14 / In the present work, three composites with distinct reinforcements (polyester, modal e polyester + modal), all if a unsaturated orthophthalic polyester resin as matrix were used, in order to conduct a comparative study by mechanical tests and water absorption. The fibre mats were prepared in a mat preparatory by immersion developed in the Textile Engineering Laboratory. The composites were manufactured using a closed mould process by compression using an unsaturated orthophthalic polyester resin as matrix and 1% MEK (methyl ethyl ketone peroxide) as an initiator. In each composite twelve samples with the dimensions of 150x25x3 mm were cut randomly for the mechanical analysis (tension x extension, three points bending and water absorption and Scanning Electron Micsroscopy). The mechanical tests were carried out in the Laborat?rio de Metais e Ensaios Mec?nicos UFRN . All the analyses were carried out according to the ASTM norms. The resultant samples from the mechanical analysis were subjected for the Scanning Electron Microscopy analysis. Based on the results obtained, it was observed that the reinforced composite with two fibres (modal + polyester) presented better results in comparison to the other two composites both in the tension/extension as well on the three point bending tests. In the water absorption test, it was possible to observe an equilibrium in the water absorption by the modal and polyester composite, due to the union of the two fibres. In the SEM images, the regions of rupture in the composites as well as the adsorption between the fiber and the matrix could be observed / No presente trabalho foram fabricados tr?s comp?sitos com refor?os distintos (poli?ster, modal e poli?ster + modal), todos com uma matriz de resina de poli?ster ortofit?lico n?o saturado, com o objetivo de realizar um estudo comparativo atrav?s de ensaios mec?nicos e absor??o d ?gua. As mantas de fibras foram preparadas num preparador de manta por imers?o desenvolvido no Laborat?rio de Engenharia T?xtil da UFRN. Os comp?sitos foram fabricados usando o processo de molde fechado por compress?o, utilizando a resina de poli?ster ortoft?lica e 1% de per?xido MEK (per?xido de metil etil cetona) como iniciador. Em cada comp?sito foram cortadas doze amostras aleatoriamente, com as dimens?es 150x25x3 mm, para avalia??o atrav?s de ensaios mec?nicos (resist?ncia ? tra??o e ? flex?o, absor??o d agua e microscopia eletr?nica de varredura). Os ensaios de tra??o e flex?o em tr?s pontos foram realizados no Laborat?rio de Metais e Ensaios Mec?nicos - UFRN. Todas as an?lises estavam de acordo com as normas da ASTM. As amostras resultantes dos ensaios mec?nicas foram avaliadas no MEV. Com base nos resultados dos ensaios mec?nicos, observou-se que o comp?sito refor?ado com as duas fibras em conjunto (poli?ster+modal) apresentou um melhor comportamento quando foram expostos a carregamentos tanto de tra??o quanto de flex?o. No ensaio de absor??o d agua foi poss?vel observar um equilibribio na absor??o de umidade do comp?sito com modal e poli?ster, devido a uni?o das duas fibras. Nas imagens do MEV foi poss?vel ver as regi?es de ruptura do comp?sito e a ades?o entre a fibra e a matriz