The paper presents the results of research on hybrid composites made of unsaturated polyester resin based on post-consumer recycled poly(ethylene terephthalate). The polymeric materials were reinforced with quartz flour, which is a common inorganic mineral filler. An environmentally friendly cobalt polymer solution was used to cure the polyester matrix. The results showed the quantitative influence of the quartz filler on the thermal, mechanical and morphological properties of the quartz-polyester composites. A change in the surface wettability and the polarity of the polymeric materials was also noticed, with some deterioration of their gloss.
Keywords: hybrid composite; mechanical properties; quartz flour; surface properties; thermal properties; unsaturated polyester resin.