Nanomechanical properties and nanoscale deformation of PDMS nanocomposites

In this study, nanoindentation technique was utilised to estimate the nanomechanical properties (hardness H, and elastic modulus E) of elastomeric polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) samples consisting of different nanoclay concentrations (organically modified montmorillonite), namely, 0, 5 and 8 parts per...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inPlastics, rubber & composites Vol. 41; no. 2; pp. 88 - 93
Main Authors Charitidis, C A, Koumoulos, E P
Format Journal Article Conference Proceeding
LanguageEnglish
Published London, England Taylor & Francis 01.03.2012
SAGE Publications
Maney
Subjects
Applied sciences
Elastomer
Exact sciences and technology
Nanoindentation
Nanomechanical properties
Physicochemistry of polymers
Polydimethylsiloxane
Polymer industry, paints, wood
Technology of polymers
Nanomechanical properties
Polydimethylsiloxane
Nanoindentation
Elastomer
Dimethylsiloxane polymer
Elastic modulus
Organic clay
Montmorillonite
Mechanical properties
Polymer
Tensile property
Hardness
Composite material
Surface treatment
Concentration effect
Nanocomposite
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Summary:In this study, nanoindentation technique was utilised to estimate the nanomechanical properties (hardness H, and elastic modulus E) of elastomeric polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) samples consisting of different nanoclay concentrations (organically modified montmorillonite), namely, 0, 5 and 8 parts per hundred. The PDMS samples were also characterised by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and tensile testing. In addition, the surface of the nanocomposites was characterised through scanning probe microscopy, revealing surface modification with increasing nanoclay content in the PDMS matrix. Additionally, several analyses on nanoindentation data were performed, and the exact surface region (with higher values of H and E) was clearly defined. One key problem in using the Oliver and Pharr (O&P) method is the determination of the contact area between the indenter and the sample. It is believed that the contact area is underestimated using the O&P method and Hertzian analysis for soft polymers. Therefore, calculations using the O&P method and Hertzian analysis have been performed and compared. The change in H/E slope revealed that the addition of nanoclay amount strengthens the PDMS-montmorillonite nanocomposite.
ISSN:1465-8011
1743-2898
DOI:10.1179/1743289810Y.0000000037