Nanofiller Reinforced Polyolefin Elastomer: Effect on Morphology and Mechanical Properties of Composites

Abstract

The effect of different types of fillers on morphology and mechanical properties of polymer nanocomposites has been investigated using ethylene-1-octene copolymer (EOC), a polyolefin based elastomer, as matrix and various nanofillers {such as multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT), layered silicate (LS) and boehmite (OS2)}. The morphological structures were studied by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) while the mechanical properties were characterized by tensile testing and microindentation hardness measurements. It has been shown that the nature of the nanofiller may have significant influence on the mechanical properties of the samples. Among the nanocomposites studied so far, the MWCNT filled samples showed the highest reinforcing effect followed by layered silicate. The least reinforcing effect was obtained for the samples filled with boehmite nanoparticles.