Environmental stress cracking resistance of halloysite nanoclay-polyester nanocomposites

Saharudin, Mohd; Wei, Jiacheng; Shyha, Islam; Inam, Fawad

Abstract

The environmental stress cracking resistance of halloysite nanoclay-polyester nanocomposites was investigated using fracture mechanics approach. The incorporation of halloysite nanoclay was found to improve the environmental stress cracking resistance of the nano-composites. The storage modulus of nano-composites measured by dynamic mechanical analysis increased remarkably as a function of halloysite nanoclay content. At 0.7 wt\% nanoclay, the Tg improved from 72?C to 76?C. The fracture toughness increased up to 33\% and time to failure improved 155\% with the addition of 0.7 wt\% of halloysite nanoclay. The maximum microhardness was found 119\% higher for the same nano-filler concentration compared to monolithic polyester. The reinforcement with 1 wt\% showed lower fracture toughness due to agglomerations of nanoclay which act as flaws. The presence of agglomerates weakened the bond between nano-particles and matrix hence reduces the environmental stress cracking resistance by halloysite nanoclay reinforcement.

Citation

Saharudin, M., Wei, J., Shyha, I., & Inam, F. (2017). Environmental stress cracking resistance of halloysite nanoclay-polyester nanocomposites. World Journal of Engineering and Technology, 5, 389-403. https://doi.org/10.4236/wjet.2017.53033

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 9, 2017
• Publication Date: 2017
• Deposit Date: Nov 4, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 27, 2023
• Journal: World Journal of Engineering and Technology
• Print ISSN: 2331-4222
• Electronic ISSN: 2331-4249
• Publisher: Scientific Research Publishing
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 5
• Pages: 389-403
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4236/wjet.2017.53033
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/Output/2686792
• Publisher URL: http://nrl.northumbria.ac.uk/id/eprint/31366/