Abstract
Thispaper deals withanovelconceptofinductionofwell-distributed submicrometer voidsinpolypropylene (PP) and PP/CaCO3 nanocomposites during processing to alleviate their brittleness without sacrificing Young's modulus and yield strength. The role of these voids in initiating/participating in the plastic deformation processes during tensile and double-notch four-point-bend (DN-4-PB) tests is investigated. It is shown that the voids act in a similar way as the cavitated rubber particles in rubber-toughened polymer systems; that is, plastic growth (of the pre-existent voids) in the PP matrix occurs upon deformation and subsequently triggers large plastic deformation of the surrounding matrix in the form of isolated and domainlike craze structures.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 5734-5739 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| Journal | Macromolecules |
| Volume | 43 |
| Issue number | 13 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 13 Jul 2010 |
| Externally published | Yes |
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Organic Chemistry
- Polymers and Plastics
- Inorganic Chemistry
- Materials Chemistry