Journal
MATERIALS & DESIGN
Volume 54, Issue -, Pages 712-726Publisher
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.matdes.2013.08.067
Keywords
Polypropylene; Multi wall carbon nanotubes; Tacticity; Toughness; Fracture; Crack propagation
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Funding
- Department of Science and Technology New Delhi, India [SR/S3/ME/0010/2008]
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A remarkable toughness enhancement (>330%) of multi wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) filled stereo-complex polypropylene (PP) matrix i.e. blend of isotactic-PP and syndiotactic-PP (70: 30) with differences in stereo-regularity has been observed. The enhancement has been correlated to quantifiable morphological parameters such as free-space lengths concerning dispersion and relatively greater reduction in crystallite size/lamellar thickness. Systematic analysis of glass transition data and estimation of multi wall carbon nanotubes induced reduction in interfacial polymer chain immobilization reiterates susceptibility of polymer segments to ready-mobility. The extent of toughening has quantitatively been analyzed by fracture-energy partitioning, essential work of fracture (EWF), approach enabling the detection of a semi-ductile-to-tough-to-quasi-brittle transition in the MWCNT filled stereo-complex polypropylene. Real-time fracture kinetics analysis revealed toughening mechanism to be primarily blunting-assisted; an aspect also corroborated by extensive plastic flow without much energy dissipation in the inner fracture process zone. Thus the study establishes a new pathway of tacticity-defined matrix modification to toughen nanocomposites. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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