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Polycarbonate (PC)/nanosilica (nSiO2) nanocomposites were prepared by melt‐blending technique, in which surfactants are used to enhance the interfacial adhesion between nSiO2 and polymer matrix. Mechanical properties demonstrate increased Young's modulus and yield strength of modified PC/nSiO2 nanocomposites when compared with PC. Increased compatibility further indicates an effective increase in thermal stability as observed from thermogravimetric analysis. Dynamic mechanical analysis point out a reduction in Tg value with increased storage modulus. The flammability characteristics of PC/nSiO2 nanocomposites were evaluated using limiting oxygen index, whereas the morphological properties are characterized by wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 2013. © 2012 Society of Plastics Engineers

Natural fibre (NF) reinforced acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) composites (NF/ABS) have many applications that are governed by their mechanical properties, and in particular, by their tensile properties. This study exhibits the comparison of the literature reported measured tensile strength and tensile modulus values of some natural fibre reinforced ABS composites with the values predicted by the following equations: Rule and Inverse Rule of Mixtures and Halpin-Tsai, Nielsen, Hirsch and Palsule equations and evaluates the applicability of these equations for the natural fibre reinforced ABS composites.