On the fracture characteristics of impact tested high density polyethylene–calcium carbonate nanocomposites

The mechanical response of calcium carbonate-reinforced high density polyethylene nanocomposite is investigated and the behavior compared with the unreinforced polyethylene processed under similar conditions. The reinforcement of high density polyethylene with nanocalcium carbonate retains adequately high strength in the temperature range of −40 to +20 °C. The positive influence of reinforcement on the impact strength is reflected in the fracture characteristics and is attributed predominantly to the nucleating effect of calcium carbonate in decreasing the spherulite size. The achievement of high impact strength is accompanied by increase in modulus and no loss in yield strength. The reinforcement of neat high density polyethylene (HDPE) with nanocalcium carbonate alters the deformation micromechanism from crazing–tearing in HDPE to fibrillated fracture in polymer nanocomposite.