A study of the mechanical properties on polypropylene enhanced by surface treated nanoclays

This paper presents the results of a current study concerned with the mechanical properties of a polypropylene binder resin, enhanced by nanoclay filler. The study was centred on the potential benefits obtained by the addition of specially surface treated nanoclays on the stiffness, toughness and also on static and fatigue strength. Specimens were produced by an injection moulding process with 3% in weight of nanoclay.Surface treatment of the nanoclay promotes a tendency to increase stiffness and tensile strength in comparison with composites filled by both commercial nanoclay and unfilled material. Nanoclay filling significantly improves absorbed impact energy in comparison with unfilled materials, but in contrast Gc values are significantly lower as consequence of the material embrittlement. Fatigue analysis shows that the materials tested in the present work exhibit high strain accumulation and stress release. Filled material show lower fatigue performance than unfilled polymer. However, surface treatment used on B3 composite promotes better clay dispersion and smaller particle size leading to a fatigue performance close to matrix polymer.