Dynamic Mechanical Properties of PMMA/Organoclay Nanocomposite: Experiments and Modeling

Similarly to unfilled polymers, the dynamic mechanical properties of polymer/organoclay nanocomposites are sensitive to frequency and temperature, as well as to clay concentration. Richeton et al. (2005, “A Unified Model for Stiffness Modulus of Amorphous Polymers Across Transition Temperatures and Strain Rates,” Polymer, 46, pp. 8194–8201) has recently proposed a statistical model to describe the storage modulus variation of glassy polymers over a wide range of temperature and frequency. In the present work, we propose to extend this approach for the prediction of the stiffness of polymer composites by using two-phase composite homogenization methods. The phenomenological law developed by Takayanagi et al., 1966, J. Polym. Sci., 15, pp. 263–281 and the classical bounds proposed by Voigt, 1928, Wied. Ann., 33, pp. 573–587 and Reuss and Angew, 1929, Math. Mech., 29, pp. 9–49 models are used to compute the effective instantaneous moduli, which is then implemented in the Richeton model (Richeton et al., 2005, “A Unified Model for Stiffness Modulus of Amorphous Polymers Across Transition Temperatures and Strain Rates,” Polymer, 46, pp. 8194–8201). This adapted formulation has been successfully validated for PMMA/cloisites 20A and 30B nanocomposites. Indeed, good agreement has been obtained between the dynamic mechanical analysis data and the model predictions of poly(methyl-methacrylate)/organoclay nanocomposites.