A new cooperative model for the prediction of compressive yield stress of polycarbonate nanocomposites considering strain rate, temperature, and agglomeration

In this study, a new model was proposed to predict the compressive yield stress of polycarbonate nanocomposite reinforced by nanoparticles at different strain rates, temperatures, and filler contents. In addition, the proposed model makes it possible to calculate the critical filler content for which the agglomeration phenomena occur. For the validation of the model, a series of experiments were performed. At first, the modified nanoclay Cloisite 20A masterbatch was produced by a direct method using extrusion machine, and the graphene oxide masterbatch was produced by the solvent method. Then the composite samples were produced using the injection-molding process, and the compressive tests were performed at three temperatures under quasi-static and dynamic loadings using a universal testing machine and split Hopkinson pressure bar. The coefficients of the proposed modified cooperative model were calculated using the experimental results. The observations showed that the presented model could correlate the compressive yield stress of polycarbonate nanocomposites to strain rate, temperature, and filler content with sufficient accuracy. Furthermore, the agglomeration of nanoparticles in polymer matrix which is a critical issue in fabrication of the advanced nanocomposites is predictable by using the current model.