Mechanical behavior of various nanoparticle filled composites at low-velocity impact

Low-velocity impact tests were performed on the various nanoparticle filled composites using a falling mass impact tester. The mechanical behavior and fracture morphology of two synthesized nanocomposites were investigates using polymer resin as the matrix and two types of filler contents as the reinforcing elements. To study the effect of exfoliated natioparticles on the properties of epoxy matrix, titanium dioxide and cloisite (R) 30B nanopowder were prepared with the filler content varied from 2 to 10 vol%. Significant improvement in mechanical properties of modulus was obtained when particle exfoliation and dispersion homogeneity were achieved. The impact energy and the corresponding initial velocity at 2.1, 5.2 and 8.1 m/s for both reinforced nanocomposites are conducted and found to have the linear relationship with both impact results. The experimental results imply that the degree of exfoliation may exhibit a maximum with respect to tensile strength, but show a minimum with respective to impact strength. It is found that the tensile strength, loss modulus, impact strength and dynamic thermal rheology of nanocomposites are extensively affected by the geometry, temperature, volume and type of filler content, and homogeneity of the nanoparticles. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.