Mechanical behavior of alumina/polymethylmethacrylate nanocomposites.
- Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY
Alumina/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) nanocomposites were synthesized using 38 and 17 nm alumina nanoparticles. At an optimum weight fraction, the resulting nanocomposites display a room-temperature brittle-to-ductile transition in uniaxial tension with an increase in the strain-to-failure that averages 40% strain and the appearance of a well-defined yield point in uniaxial tension. Concurrently, the glass transition temperature (T{sub g}) of the nanocomposites drops by more than 20 C. The brittle-to-ductile transition is found to depend on poor interfacial adhesion between polymer and nanoparticle. This allows the nucleation of voids, typically by larger particles ({approx}100 nm), which subsequently expand during loading. This void formation suppresses craze formation and promotes delocalized shear yielding. In addition, the reduction in T{sub g} shrinks the shear yield envelope, further promoting this type of yield behavior. The brittle-to-ductile phenomenon is found to require both larger particles for void growth and smaller particles that induce the lowering of yield stress.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000
- OSTI ID:
- 1005439
- Report Number(s):
- SAND2003-3570J; TRN: US201105%%329
- Journal Information:
- Proposed for publication in Macromolecules., Vol. 37, Issue 4
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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