Fracture and Toughening of Composites of Polymers and Nanoscale Inorganic and Organic Fillers

Abstract

The objectives of the project were to investigate the mechanical properties and particularly the fracture mechanisms of a number of nanocomposites, and to discover possible approaches to their toughening. The nanocomposites investigated included PA-6/clay (materials supplied by the AFRL) and silsesquioxane-based hybrid materials (supplied by Prof. Rick Laine of the University of Michigan). The embrittlement of PA-6 nano-clay composites was mainly due to microcracking, followed by global fracture. The toughening-by-bridging approach proved to be somewhat effective. PVDF shows no evidence of plastic deformation, but exhibited good adhesion. Silsesquioxane/epoxy based on octa-cyclohexenyl silsesquioxane epoxide cubes and diaminodiphenyl methane was brittle, but some plastic deformation was observed. Toughening through additions of core-shell rubber particle (up to 4 wt.%) was not very effective. Further study may involve high concentrations of CSR.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 24, 2001
Accession Number
ADA398475

Entities

People

  • Albert F. Yee
  • Neal T. Chung

Organizations

  • Institute of Materials Research and Engineering

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Energy and Power Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Composite Materials
  • Embrittlement
  • Material Degradation Processes
  • Materials
  • Materials Processing
  • Materials Science
  • Mechanical Properties
  • Microscopy
  • Nanocomposites
  • Particles
  • Plastic Deformation
  • Plastics
  • Polymer Matrix Composites
  • Reinforced Plastics
  • Scattering
  • Stress Strain Relations
  • Tensile Modulus

Fields of Study

  • Materials science

Readers

  • Materials Science (Mechanical Engineering).
  • Nanocomposite Materials Science
  • Polymer Science and Engineering.