Nano-indentation as a tool for evaluating the rheological threshold in polymer composites
Al-Zahrani, Anesh M. P., Ahmed Y. E., Ubair A.S., Mohammad A.A, Justin G., Ajit K.S., S. M. . 2019
We investigated the variation of nano-mechanical properties of Poly (propylene) (PP)/Carbon Black (CB) composite
using nano-indentation and evaluated rheological threshold of the composites. PP/CB composites were
prepared by melt-mixing process with varying CB content (0–20 wt %) using a micro-compounder. The rheological
threshold of the composites was calculated using well known rheometer technique by power law relation.
We also employed nano-indentation technique as an additional novel tool for evaluating rheological threshold in
PP/CB composites. Rheological and nano-indentation measurements were correlated to assess the rheological
threshold in PP/CB composites. The modulus of elasticity of PP/CB composites was increased from 0.8 GPa to
1.4 GPa with 20 wt % CB loading. There was a minor enhancement in the tensile strength of PP/CB composites
with increase in CB content and the elongation at yield was decreased due to the brittleness imparted by CB. The
thermal stability of PP/CB system also improved with CB content as the decomposition temperature was shifted
from 450 �C to 500 �C.
