Effect of Surface Modification on Strain Rate Sensitivity of Polypropylene/Muscovite Layered Silicate Composites

Abstract

Surface modification is one of the treatment methods that can be implemented to improve the strain rate sensitivity of composite materials. In this study, both untreated and treated polypropylene/muscovite layered silicate composites were tested under static and dynamic loading up to 1100 s-1 using the universal testing machine and the split Hopkinson pressure bar apparatus, respectively. Muscovite particles were treated with lithium nitrate and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide as a surfactant through ion exchange treatment. Results show that the treated polypropylene/muscovite specimens with fine state of dispersion level shows better rate of sensitivity as compared to untreated polypropylene/muscovite specimens under a wide range of strain rate investigated. Apart from that, the rate of sensitivity of both tested polypropylene/muscovite layered silicate composites also show great dependency on the strain rate sensitivity was steadily increased with increasing strain rate. Unfortunately, the thermal activation values show contrary trend. Key words: Ion exchange treatment; Strain rate sensitivity; Muscovite particles; Split Hopkinson pressure bar apparatus; Strain rates