Viscoelastic behavior and constitutive modeling of PP/HNT composites prepared by water‐assisted extrusion

Poly(propylene) (PP) nanocomposites containing 5, 10, and 15 wt% unmodified halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) were prepared using extrusion with and without water injection. Scanning electron microscopy micrographs show that HNT aggregates prepared by water injection are smaller than those prepared by conventional melt extrusion (without water injection). The nanocomposites prepared by water injection exhibit higher storage modulus ( G ′) and complex viscosity ( η *) values than those by conventional melt extrusion. Stress relaxation results indicate that the interaction between HNTs and PP matrix at low concentration (5 wt%) is stronger than its non‐water injection counterpart. Subsequently, for 5 wt% HNT sample, the transient viscosity is simulated numerically using the Kaye–Bernstein–Kearsley–Zapas (K‐BKZ) integral constitutive equation along with experimentally determined damping functions. It is found that the samples prepared by water injection exhibit a more obvious overshoot behavior than conventional samples and the Papanastasiou‐Scriven‐Macosko (PSM) model can predict the transient viscosity of the samples more accurately than Wagner model. Further, the relationship between the dispersion of HNTs and the damping factors in the constitutive models is discussed. The results of this investigation would improve the theoretical understanding of possible polymer–filler interaction during shear flow. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 59:1585–1592 2019. © 2019 Society of Plastics Engineers