Analysis of the physical–mechanical behavior of the polymer composite reinforced with silicon flotation residue

The use of composite materials has seen a significant increase for economic, performance, and environmental reasons. Consequently, improperly discarded industrial waste has been employed as particles in composite materials. Thus, this study addresses the fabrication of polyester matrix composites reinforced within natural silicon residue particles. In this regard, the manual hand lay-up method was used in the fabrication process, employing rectangular metal molds. Silicon residue was incorporated at mass fractions of 5%, 10%, and 15%. The manufactured composites were analyzed for mechanical properties (tensile and flexural) and physical properties (density, apparent density, water absorption, and apparent porosity). The results showed that the mechanical characteristics of the materials changed with varying mass fractions. X-ray diffraction analysis provided insights into certain material properties based on the identified materials. The studied composite achieved a flammability classification according to established standards. Furthermore, it exhibited tensile strength (18.59 ± 3.30 MPa) and flexural strength (108.79 ± 26.61 MPa).