Abstract
This research deals with possible hybrid effects in the fracture energy of hybrid nanocomposites while taking a critical approach toward the currently-prevailing engineering practice of applying classical composite micromechanics to nanocomposites. For this purpose, different nanoparticles were embedded in an isotactic polypropylene matrix. The particles had different geometries (fibrous and platelets) and different chemical structures (organic vapor grown carbon nanofibers (VGCF); graphene nanoplatelets (GNP); and inorganic nanoclays, SiO2 nanofibers, and ZrO2 nanofibers). Almost all the composite systems presented improvements in the fracture energy, whereas the iPP/VGCF/GNP presented a positive hybrid effect. The main conclusion was that each nanocomposite system should be analyzed individually according to the constituent properties; the quality of the dispersion; and, primarily, by the type of interaction between the particles and the matrix.
Highlights
It is well-known that nanofillers may increase the properties of the matrix in composite materials
We examined the effect of geometry and chemical structure of the nanofillers on the fracture energy, and possible hybrid effects of hybrid systems comprised of isotactic polypropylene with different nanofillers
We suggest that the significantly high fracture toughness of the nanohybrid in this system may reflect a hybrid effect, wherein the energy dissipation that derives from the simultaneous occurrence of both the crack-front bowing and pull-out mechanisms is higher than the arithmetic sum of the weighted average contributions of the graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) and vapor-grown carbon nanofibers (VGCF) alone
Summary
It is well-known that nanofillers may increase the properties of the matrix in composite materials. Chen et al prepared a flame-retardant polypropylene (PP) films with graphene nanoplatelets (GNP) alone and with magnesium hydroxide (MH) This combination resulted in enhanced thermal stability, reduced burning rate, improved tensile performance, and improved Young’s modulus [2]. Li et al investigated a system of poly(vinyl alcohol) enclosed in multiwalled CNT and fully exfoliated graphene oxide (GO) sheets and tested different filler compositions. They found that the system that contained 1 wt % of GO and 0.5 wt % of CNT could receive a hybrid and even a synergistic effect on the yield strength and Young’s modulus (increased by 48% and 31%, respectively). This led to the highest tensile strength and Young’s modulus [5]
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