2017 Volume 66 Issue 3 Pages 224-231
The objective of this study is to investigate the dynamic viscoelastic properties of poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) composites with ultrasonicated nanoclay. The nanoclays were ultrasonicated in solvent, and dried in an oven. The dispersion stability of nanoclay/solvent suspensions was observed to evaluate the degree of exfoliation of nanoclays. Morphology of ultrasonicated nanoclays was also examined using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Specimens of PET composites with ultrasonicated nanoclays were then fabricated by melt blending. Dynamic viscoelastic tests were carried out, and the effects of ultrasonication time and nanoclay volume fraction on the temperature dependence of the storage and loss moduli of the composites were discussed. Morphology of nanoclays in the composites was also examined using a transmission electron microscope (TEM). In addition to conducting experiments, finite element analyses were performed using a three-dimensional unit cell model to predict the elastic properties of nanoclay/PET composites. The effect of nanoclay morphology on the elastic properties of the composites was examined.
