Fracture study of the composite using essential work of fracture method: PP–SEBS–g–MA/E1 clay

Abstract

Extrusion and injection processes have been used to successfully prepare two systems of composite, polypropylene (PP)/clay (E1) and compatibilized polypropylene (PP–SEBS–g–MA)/clay (E1) at various particles content (5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30wt.%). To enhance fillers wettability within the polymer, a coupling agent was added. The essential work of fracture (EWF) concept was successfully applied to the fracture toughness characterization of ductile composites. Moreover, tensile and dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) tests were conducted for these composites to ascertain the influence of the material composition (E1 particles) on these mechanical parameters. The tensile properties results indicate that the Young’s modulus has increased for whole systems reaching a gain of 60 % and 23% in binary and ternary composites, respectively, at 30wt.% particle. Clay (E1) addition markedly enhances the plastic work of fracture (We) and reduces the specific plastic work (Bwp). The thermal analysis shows an increase in initial thermal decomposition temperatures with addition of clay (E1), which normal with the addition of a high degradation temperature charge.