Small punch test on the analysis of fracture behaviour of PLA-nanocomposite films

The analysis of the fracture behaviour of polymeric films involves the determination of the specific essential work of fracture, which requires preparation, testing and evaluation of a large number of notched specimens. All these tasks demand significant time and costs; therefore, the use of alternative testing procedures that offer savings of both materials and time are becoming increasingly attractive options. Recently, the Small Punch Test (SPT) has experienced significant development as an alternative to conventional testing procedures in the field of steels and some metallic alloys. This work considers the applicability of SPT to the fracture characterisation of polylactide acid reinforced with organic-modified montmorillonite clay, using several weight percentages of nanoclay. The applicability of the experimental methodology is evaluated through comparison of the results obtained by SPT and conventional testing (tensile and essential work of fracture).