A developed model to assume the interphase properties in a ternary polymer nanocomposite reinforced with two nanofillers

In the present study, a model is developed for prediction of tensile modulus and interphase properties in ternary polymer nanocomposites containing two nanofillers. In this regard, Ji model which assumes the interphase in particulate filled nanocomposites is developed for ternary systems in which, the arrangement of two nanofillers in parallel and series orders, the role of interphase properties and the dispersion quality of nanoparticles are taken into account by a simple approach. The calculations by the developed model are compared with the experimental results obtained for polypropylene (PP)/montmorillonite nanoclay (MMT)/CaCO3 ternary nanocomposite. It is found that the absence of interphase causes much dissimilarity between experimental and theoretical data. However, a good agreement is obtained between the experimental data and the predicted results by the developed model for ternary polymer nanocomposites.