Viscoelastic, Mechanical and DOE-Based Study on PP-Nanocomposites

Abstract

This paper deals with the quasi-static and dynamic mechanical analysis of montmorillonite filled polypropylene composites. Nanocomposites were prepared by blending montmorillonite (nanoclay) varying from 3 to 9% by weight with polypropylene. The dynamic mechanical properties such as storage modulus, loss modulus and mechanical loss factor of PP and nano-composites were investigated by varying temperature and frequencies. Results showed better mechanical and thermomechanical properties at higher concentration of nanoclay. Regression-based models through design of experiments (DOE) were developed to find the storage modulus and compared with theoretical models and DOE-based models.

Keywords:

• Damping coefficient
• Design of experiments
• Nanocomposites
• Storage modulus

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

Financial support from the Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India, under National Nano Mission (Grant No. SR/NM/NS-88/2008) is gratefully acknowledged.