Mechanical Properties of TPNR-MWNTs-OMMT Hybrid Nanocomposites

This paper discusses the processing of a hybrid of TPNR-MWNTs-OMMT nanocomposites with different percentages of filler to determine the optimum mechanical properties of the hybrid nanocomposites. Three types of hybrid nanocomposites with various MWNTs-OMMT compositions (1%wt MWNTs+3%wt OMMT), (2%wt MWNTs+2%wt OMMT) and (3%wt MWNTs+1%wt OMMT) were prepared. The OMMT layers were found to be separated further with higher nanotubes content as exhibited by X-ray diffraction. The result of tensile test showed that tensile strength and Young's modulus increase in the presence of nanotubes and maximum value were obtained for the nanocomposites with highest nanotubes (3%wt) which increased about 33% and 36%, respectively compared with pure TPNR matrix. On other hand, the elongation at break considerably decreased with increasing the percentage of MWNTs. TEM micrographs revealed aspect ratio and fillers orientation in the TPNR matrix also promoted strongly to interfacial adhesion between fillers and the matrix which contributed significantly to the improvement of the mechanical properties