Static and dynamic mechanical properties of poly(vinyl chloride) loaded with aluminum oxide nanopowder

A series of nanocomposites from poly(vinyl chloride) loaded with different concentrations of Al2O3 nanopowder was prepared. The tensile mechanical properties of these composites were studied at different temperatures namely; stress-strain curves. The elastic modulus was calculated and found to decrease with increasing both filler loading and temperature. The strain at a certain stress at different temperatures was studied and the thermal activation energy for polymer chains was calculated. The complex viscosity as well as the storage modulus was found to decrease with increasing the filler loadings at different frequencies. The relaxation time of the polymer matrix was calculated and found to independent on the concentration of the filler but it decreased linearly with increasing frequency. The glass transition temperature was found to increase with increasing both filler loading and frequency. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.