Fracture Behavior of Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) Hybrid Composites Reinforced with Nano Zirconia and Poly Tetra Fluoro Ethylene (PTFE)

Abstract

ABS composites were processed using melt blending technique by twin screw extrusion and further employing compression molding process. Microstructure and characterization analysis were carried out on the ABS composites as well as pure ABS through XRD, TEM and SEM. Mode I fracture toughness behavior were studied by conducting compact tension test. Short beam shear strength of the composites were determined by carrying out short beam strength test. Fractographic analysis was done using SEM in order to study the various toughening mechanisms involved. XRD studies revealed that nano zirconia and PTFE has formed an uniform structure with ABS polymer, which has also been confirmed with microstructural analysis. Addition of nano zirconia up to 1.5% increases the toughness, which can be attributed to crack bowing and crack deflection. With further addition of nano zirconia, fracture toughness get reduced as the composite become brittle in nature which improves strength but reduces the toughness. It has been observed that addition of PTFE enhances fracture toughness which is ascribed to the crack pinning, cavitation, crack bowing and crack deflection. The increase in shear strength can be due to toughening mechanisms which are evident from the presence of shear cusps, crack pinning and extensive plastic deformation.