On the strain rate sensitivity of HDPE/CaCO3 nanocomposites

In the current study the role of both nano-sized calcium carbonate and strain rate on the tensile properties of HDPE was studied. For this purpose standard tensile samples of HDPE and HDPE/10 vol.% CaCO3 were performed using extrusion and injection molding methods. Tensile test was done at different strain rates. The results of tests showed that addition of 10 vol.% of nano-sized calcium carbonate made an increase in both yield stress and Young's modulus of HDPE unlike its elongation. Also it was concluded that strain-rate sensitivity of HDPE decreased as nano-sized calcium carbonate was added to it. The data obtained from the tests indicated that the variation of Young's modulus of HDPE nanocomposite could be obtained from the following equation, i.e. E/E-1, = [1.0 + 5 phi(2) + 15.5 phi(2)(2)]. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.