Abstract
The condition of the interfacial area and interphase region in a nanocomposite can significantly affect its mechanical performance. In this research, the tensile performance of a POM/CaCO3 nanocomposite, including the modulus of elasticity and tensile strength, are analysed using different mathematical models and the Ansys FEM software. The mechanisms of the plastic deformation and crazing of the POM/CaCO3 nanocomposite were investigated using FEM. Furthermore, the effects of interface adhesion and the interphase property on interfacial debonding, as well as tensile properties, were analysed. The tensile strength of the nanocomposite could not be greater than that of bulk POM because of the failure which was initiated from the matrix. By stiffening the interphase and increasing the adhesion between nanoparticle and polymer, the nanocomposite's elastic modulus and strength were increased. Two toughening mechanisms, including plastic deformation and crack initiation, were observed in the POM/CaCO3 nanocomposite. The high interfacial adhesion of the matrix to the particles led to the formation and propagation of crazes along the extension load in the POM matrix. The tensile strengths of different nanocomposites were over-predicted by the Pukanszky model, while the moduli magnitudes estimated by the Ji mathematical model were less when compared to those determined by FEM.
Highlights
The incorporation of mineral particles into polymers can improve their mechanical properties
The Von Mises equivalent stress distributions in the representative volume element (RVE) models with different interphases and interfacial characteristics are depicted in Figure 4 to Figure 6
In order to obtain a better convergence in modelling, it was required that all the phases existing in the RVE model should have a mapped meshing [43]
Summary
The incorporation of mineral particles into polymers can improve their mechanical properties. Chen et al proposed a model based on meso-mechanics to predict the interfacial strength under uniaxial loading, and they concluded that the critical particle size for debonding depends on the degree of adhesion between the nanoparticles and the polymer matrix [11]. Peng et al considered the overlapping of polymer-nanoparticles’ interphases for different particle shapes and showed that the degree of particle clustering had a strong influence on the Young’s modulus of the nanocomposite [20] This result was due to the existence of interlayer regions among the nanoparticles. The tensile behaviour of POM (Ultraform N2320-003)/CaCO3 (Socal 312) nanocomposites was numerically analysed by employing the ANSYS-14 FEM software In this respect, the representative volume element (RVE) method was implemented; the interphase region and interfacial adhesion characteristics were brought into account. The results of the FEM method were compared to those predicted by mathematical models
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