Polymer matrix composites have become quite popular in the field of materials engineering owing to their high strength to weight ratios and cost effectiveness. Several synthetic fibers have been employed as reinforcement with thermoset resin as the matrix in order to achieve improved mechanical or tribological performance of the composite. A secondary reinforcement known as filler is believed to further enhance these properties. In this paper, the influence of Potassium Titanate Whiskers (PTW) as reinforcing fillers on the mechanical performance of Kevlar ® /Epoxy composite combination has been discussed. Composite samples were fabricated by hand lay-up method followed by compression by altering the weight percentage of the whiskers in the order of 0%, 2%, 4%, 6% and 8%. Mechanical tests like tensile, flexural, impact and hardness were conducted on the developed composite samples as per ASTM standards. The results indicated that the inclusion of PTW into Kevlar® /Epoxy system influenced the mechanical properties of the composites. Compared to the unfilled composites, the tensile strength increased by 6.39%, flexural strength increased by 6.32%, impact strength increased by 22.96%, and Shore D hardness value increased by 9.62% for 2 wt. % PTW. However, the mechanical properties showed a declining trend beyond PTW loading of 2 wt. %. Selected tensile specimens were analyzed through Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) images to understand their failure mechanisms.
