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Comparison of quasistatic to impact mechanical properties of multiwall carbon nanotube/polycarbonate composites

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Abstract

We report the quasistatic tensile and impact penetration properties (falling dart test) of injection-molded polycarbonate samples, as a function of multiwall carbon nanotube (MWNT) concentration (0.0–2.5%). The MWNT were incorporated by dilution of a commercial MWNT/polycarbonate masterbatch. The stiffness and quasistatic yield strength of the composites increased approximately linearly with MWNT concentration in all measurements. The energy absorbed in fracture was, however, a negative function of the MWNT concentration, and exhibited different dependencies in quasistatic and impact tests. Small-angle x-ray scattering (SAXS) showed that the dispersion of the MWNT was similar at all concentrations. The negative effects on energy absorption are attributed to agglomerates remaining in the samples, which were observed in optical microscopy and SAXS. Overall, there was a good correspondence between static and dynamic energy absorption.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Testing and Research, CH-9014, St. Gallen, Switzerland

    Paul A. Bruuuhwiler & Michel Barbezat

  2. Department of Physics and Materials Science, Uppsala University, SE-751 21, Uppsala, Sweden

    Paul A. Bruuuhwiler

  3. Empa, CH-8600, Duuubendorf, Switzerland

    Adly Necola

  4. Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45221-0012, USA

    Doug J. Kohls & Dale W. Schaefer

  5. Paul Scherrer Institute, Swiss Light Source, CH-5232, Villigen, PSI, Switzerland

    Oliver Bunk

  6. Department of Polymer Reactions and Blends, Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research Dresden, D-01069, Dresden, Germany

    Pötschke Petra

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  1. Paul A. Bruuuhwiler
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  2. Michel Barbezat
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  3. Adly Necola
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Correspondence to Paul A. Bruuuhwiler.

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This author was an editor of this journal during the review and decision stage. For the JMR policy on review and publication of manuscripts authored by editors, please refer to http://www.mrs.org/publications/JMR/policy.html

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Bruuuhwiler, P.A., Barbezat, M., Necola, A. et al. Comparison of quasistatic to impact mechanical properties of multiwall carbon nanotube/polycarbonate composites. Journal of Materials Research 25, 1118–1130 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1557/JMR.2010.0139

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1557/JMR.2010.0139

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