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Ductile‐to‐Semiductile Transition in PP‐MWNT Nanocomposites
Author(s) -
Satapathy Bhabani K.,
Ganß Martin,
Weidisch Roland,
Pötschke Petra,
Jehnichen Dieter,
Keller Thomas,
Jandt Klaus D.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
macromolecular rapid communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.348
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1521-3927
pISSN - 1022-1336
DOI - 10.1002/marc.200600892
Subject(s) - materials science , nanocomposite , composite material , fracture (geology) , displacement (psychology) , fracture mechanics , yield (engineering) , transition temperature , glass transition , work (physics) , polymer , thermodynamics , psychology , superconductivity , physics , quantum mechanics , psychotherapist
Abstract A ductile‐to‐semiductile transition in the crack resistance behaviour of PP/MWNT composites is discussed, using an essential work of fracture approach based on a post yield fracture mechanics concept and its possible interrelation to the structural attributes studied by TEM, SEM, and WAXD. A maximum in the non‐essential work of fracture is observed at 0.5 wt.‐% MWNT content, which demonstrates the enhanced resistance to crack propagation compared to pure PP, followed by a sharp decline with the increase in MWNT content to 1.5 wt.‐%, which reveals a ductile‐to‐semiductile transition. Fracture kinetic studies present a qualitative picture of the nature of such a transition in terms of a) switch over from non‐steady (in pure PP) to steady‐state crack tip opening displacement rate (in nanocomposites), and b) a ductile‐to‐semiductile transition; largely as a result of delayed‐yielding of the nanocomposites.