No abstract

Thermoplastic elastomeric nanocomposites have a wide range of applications in the automotive, medical, electronics, and energy sectors. Good mechanical and fracture performances are typically needed to reach the desired properties for the applications. In this study, tensile and fracture properties of exfoliated graphite (EG) filled PP toughened with ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) are examined. Accordingly, four levels of EVA (0, 10, 20, and 30 wt.%) and EG (0, 1, 3, and 5 wt.%) are utilized. The full factorial design is employed to explain the effect of independent parameters and their interaction on responses. The essential work of fracture (EWF) methodology is also employed to investigate the fracture behavior of the blend nanocomposites. By increasing EVA, the elongation at break and non-EWF are increased by 188% and 75%, in succession. Moreover, the tensile modulus is improved up to 11% by increasing EG. The compound with 10 wt.% EVA and 1 wt.% EG has the best toughness-strength-stiffness balance based on the optimization results.

Polymer‐based nanocomposites can be used in a wide variety of applications in the industrial, electronics, and energy segments. In order to attain the application‐specific properties that are desired, good mechanical and fracture efficiency is frequently required. Polyamide 6 (PA6)/polyethylene octene grafted with maleic anhydride (POE‐g‐MA)/titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanocomposites' fracture characteristics were investigated utilizing the essential work of fracture (EWF) approach in this work. Four levels of POE‐g‐MA (0, 10, 20, and 30 wt%) and three levels of TiO2 (0, 2, and 4 wt%) are therefore utilized. The reliability of the EWF theory is demonstrated via the self‐similarity of the force‐displacement curve and Hill's analysis. Results showed that EWF and non‐essential work of fracture (non‐EWF) were improved by 73% and 54%, respectively, by increasing POE‐g‐MA up to 30 wt%. The improvement of EWF value confirmed the role of POE‐g‐MA as an impact modifier. Nevertheless, by increasing TiO2 up to 4 wt%, EWF, and non‐EWF decrease by 20% and 25%, respectively. Adding 30 wt% POE‐g‐MA reduced tensile strength and enhanced strain at the break by 45% and 109%, respectively. Moreover, the tensile strength was enhanced up to 10% by adding 4 wt% of TiO2 content. However, the strain at break was decreased by 44% by increasing 4 wt% of TiO2 nanoparticle. In addition, the dominant fracture mechanism in polyamide‐based blends and nanocomposites is shear‐yielding and fibrillation structures.