Reinforced modulus enhancement factor

Figure 2.2 Modulus enhancement factor for reinforced thermoplastics as a function of fiber volume fraction, orientation angle, and aspect ratio. (Adapted from Ref. [18].)...

Introductory paragraphs similar to the above can be found in hundreds of nanocomposite papers. With the exception of reinforced elastomers, nanocomposites have not lived up to expectations. Although claims of modulus enhancement by factors of 10 exist, these claims are offset by measurements that show little or no improvement... The lackluster performance of nanocomposites has been attributed to a number of factors including poor dispersion, poor interfacial load transfer, process-related deficiencies, poor alignment, poor load transfer to the interior of filler bundles, and the fractal nature of filler clusters [5]. 

As might be expected from a consideration of the factors discussed in Section 4.2, the imidisation process will stiffen the polymer chain and hence enhance Tg and thus softening points. Hence Vicat softening points (by Procedure B) may be as high as 175°C. The modulus of elasticity is also about 50% greater than that of PMMa at 4300 MPa, whilst with carbon fibre reinforcement this rises to 25 000 MPa. The polymer is clear (90% transparent) and colourless. 

In one example, the tensile strength of polyamide 6 was increased by 55% and the moduli by 90%, with the addition of only 4wt% of delaminated clay. The enhanced tensile property of PCN suggests that nanocomposite performance is related to the degree of clay delamination, which increases the interaction between the clay layers and the polymers. Several explanations, based on the interfacial properties and the mobility of the polymer chains, have been given for this reinforcement. Kojima et al. reported that the tensile modulus improvement for polyamide 6-clay hybrid originated from a constrained region, where the polymer chains have reduced mobility. The dispersion and delamination of the clay were the key factors for the reinforcement. The delaminated nanocomposite structure produces a substantial increase in modulus. 

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