Mechanical characterisation of virgin and recovered polycarbonate based nanocomposites by means of Depth Sensing Indentation measurements

• Mechanical characterisation of nanoclay–polycarbonate nanocomposites by DSI.
• Homogeneity of nanofiller distribution assessing by means of DSI techniques.
• Nanoclay compounding on polycarbonate: reinforcement vs. decrease of molar mass.
• Recovery of waste polycarbonates by melt compounding with nanoclays.

The preparation of recovered polycarbonate matrix nanocomposites filled with organic modified montmorillonites has been considered as a method for the secondary or mechanical recycling of these polymeric wastes. The mechanical properties of these nanocomposites have been evaluated by means of Depth Sensing Indentation measurements. The selection of the measurement conditions has been discussed and a method to evaluate the heterogeneity of these materials has been presented. It has been found that greater nanoclay contents do not always lead to increase in mechanical properties. This fact has been explained in terms of the competition between the reinforcement effect of the nanofiller and the thermal and mechanical degradation that experiments the matrix during the melt processing. This result provide a limit for the clay addition in the mechanical recovery of polycarbonate wastes.

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