Nonlinear elastoplastic behavior induced by multiwalled carbon nanotubes in the compatibilized low density polyethylene/poly(methyl hydrogen siloxane)-grafted perlite nanocomposites

• Published in: Mechanics of materials Vol. 136; p. 103066
• Main Authors: Paran, S.M.R., Sahraeian, R., Naderi, G., Rashidi, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.09.2019
• Subjects: Elastoplastic behavior; Low density polyethylene; Mechanical and thermal properties; Multiwalled carbon nanotubes; Perlite; Multiwalled carbon nanotubes; Elastoplastic behavior; Mechanical and thermal properties; Perlite; Low density polyethylene
• ISSN: 0167-6636; 1872-7743
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mechmat.2019.103066

•Studied nonlinear elastoplastic behavior of LDPE nanocomposite at large deformation.•Used carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and poly(methyl hydrogen siloxane)-grafted perlite as nanofillers.•Studied the effect of MWCNTs on the physical and mechanical behavior of nanocomposites by various experimental methods.•Quantified interfacial interaction by model parameters by varying filler content.•Achieved excellent agreements between experimental behavior and model predictions. The effect of various concentrations of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) on the elastoplastic behavior, thermal and rheological properties of compatibilized nanocomposites based on low density polyethylene containing poly(methyl hydrogen siloxane)-grafted perlite was explored through using experimental and theoretical analysis. The nanocomposites were prepared by using melt mixing procedure and characterized by various experimental measurements including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), differential scanning calorimeter (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), tensile test and rheological measurements. The experimental analyses revealed that the MWCNTs can raise the Young's modulus of prepared nanocomposites up to 63% depending on the nanotubes concentration and dispersion state. Thermal decomposition investigations demonstrated a higher thermal stability up to 10 °C for nanocomposites containing 2 wt% of MWCNTs. The large strain elastoplastic behavior of prepared nanocomposites was elucidated by application of Bergström-Boyce model to the resulted stress-strain curves. Generally, theoretical analyses could appropriately predict nonlinear elastoplastic behavior of nanocomposites, even though some deviations were detected at yielding and necking regions, especially at higher nanotube concentrations. The analytical stiffness analysis through using Christensen-Lo model with emphasizing the effect of interphase region could accurately predict the effect of various MWCNTs loading onto the Young's modulus.