Interfacial stress transfer factor and tensile strength of polymer halloysite nanotubes systems

Abstract

AbstractEven though numerous papers have studied the mechanical properties of polymer halloysite nanotubes (HNT) nanocomposites by experimental characterizations, only a few researchers have simulated the characteristics of these materials. Moreover, the previous papers have disregarded the interphase features for the mechanical performance of HNT‐reinforced systems. In this article, two simple models are progressed for tensile strength of HNT‐based nanocomposites supposing HNT size and interphase section. The models' calculations are linked to the measured data and the characters of all factors in the strength are explained. In addition, the advanced models are used to define the “s” as interfacial stress transfer factor for HNT‐filled nanocomposites. The influences of various factors on the “s” are validated to approve the novel equation. All forecasts appropriately follow the measured data at various HNT loadings. “s,” interfacial shear strength, interphase thickness, and HNT length directly control the nanocomposite's strength, but HNT radius and polymer's strength have inverse effects. Additionally, the highest value of interfacial shear strength produces the maximum level of “s,” but HNT size negligibly manipulates the “s.”